Delores Ann Chandler (Jones) Obituary (1949 - 2021)

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7 Death is just a step into a better life and on Monday, September 20, 2021, in Covington, LA, God dispatched His angels to transport His daughter home. She was a native of Lutcher, LA and lifelong resident of Houston, TX. LoAnn was the oldest daughter of the late Walsh and Dorthy Batiste of Gramercy, LA. She was reared in a Christian home by her parents, and they encouraged the love of God as well as advocated the importance of education into her life. Age 72 years. Delores's legacy of education began in the St. James Parish public school system. She entered first grade at Gramercy Elementary and later transferred to Cypress Grove Elementary when the family moved from Gramercy to Lutcher. After high school she went on to graduate from Straight Business School in New Orleans, LA, received an Associate of Arts degree in Accounting from Delgado Community College. She later continued her education by enrolling in Laredo Community College to study American Government as well as Accounting and Finance. LoAnn also received an Associate of Arts degree in Real Estate Development fom Houston Community College. Her employment included Secretary at Charity Hospital and Secretary at GoodHope Refinery where she was given the opportunity to help set up the World's Fair in 1984. She was also employed as a Technical Instructor at CBM (Computer Business Management) from 1982-1988 in Laredo, TX and later as an instructor at MTI (Microcomputer Technology Institute) from 1989-1995, after relocating to Houston, TX. While in Houston, she found employment she considered more meaningful as an Administrative Supervisor at Texas Children Hospital (1991-2002) and then transferred over to MD Anderson serving as Administrative Supervisor until retirement in 2009. During that same time, she became a Notary and joined the National Association of Notaries and Certified Professional Secretaries. She met Lionel Riley of New Orleans, LA while in high school. They later married and had one child, Lionel Riley, Jr. She and Lionel divorced, and she transferred to Laredo, TX continuing her employment at GoodhopeRefinery. She met and married Clayton Belle and moved to Houston when his job transferred him. She thoroughly enjoyed the flexibility of her employment because she was able to travel many places and learn about many different cultures. On August 13, 2000, she married George Chandler and became a cowgirl! She learned to ride horses (suffering a few falls) but never gave up even after breaing her coccyx bone. She loved the trailrides and especially the people she met along the way. She really enjoyed meeting new people. She joined a group of people at the gym that became very close. They traveled, laughed, played cards, ate at each other's houses, and made a day of eating at Picadilly's every Saturday, no matter what. They checked on each other--all the time. They always knew what was going on with each other. But most important to all of them was attending Smooth Jazz concerts. If they did not attend the concert together, I guarantee you, at least one person from their group attended each concert given during their time as friends. She would call her sister, Annette whom she affectionately referred to as "Ms. Houston", and her cousin, Wanda Francois, to visit and join the group in Houston. She loved family and was so pleased when they visited. She never took NO for an answer. If an event was coming up, she would call and say something like 'Will Downing will be in the Woodlands. I've got the tickets. When y'all coming?' For Carnival, she would call and say my flight will get in at 10:00am on Friday before Fat Tuesday. Who's going to pick me up? She was picked up from the airport and spent the day in New Orleans. She never stayed away long. Whenever the younger kids saw her, the first thing they asked is "Are you going to take us to McDonalds' in the morning?" Because she always did. She always made a point to try and visit everybody. Each stop she managed to get her something to eat and something to put in her containers to take back to Houston. She always said, the food will make it back to Houston, I have ice!!! Delores was a sweet woman with a kind word for everybody that endeared her to many. She never complained much about anything but had an opinion about almost everything. She especially enjoyed her line dancing activities with the group, swimming, visiting various churches, feeding the hungry and meeting her friends at Tom Bass Park. LoAnn will best be remembered as a woman with a warm heart whose life's mission was to spread love & kindness to anyone she met. She was a praying woman, faithful to her God, her husband, her child, her much loved granddaughter, the community, and most importantly to her family. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Wednesday, September 29, 2021, at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, 616 E Main St., Gramercy, LA 70052. Visitation period will be from 9am-11am. Service beginning at 11am. Reverend Vincent J. Dufresne officiating. Interment to follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Paulina, LA. Final care and professional services entrusted to Treasures of Life Funeral Services, 315 E Airline Hwy., Gramercy, LA 70052. "When someone you love becomes a memory, that memory becomes a TREASURE!!" To share condolences and thoughts, and to sign guest book, please visit: www.treasurefunerals.com. Due to COVID-19 and CDC guidelines and restrictions, masks and social distancing are REQUIRED!!!