Zelda Mae Chandler

Zelda Mae Chandler, 89, of Eufaula, Oklahoma, passed away on Sunday, August 6, 2023, at Porta Caeli hospice home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Zelda was born on September 23, 1933, in Spring Creek, Oklahoma, the daughter of Oscar J. and Mary Elizabeth (House) Gates. She attended high school in Locust Grove, Oklahoma, and graduated from high school in Encinitas, California, having moved with her husband, Loren Younger, to Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base. They had two sons, Steven Jay Younger and Curtis Glenn Younger.

Zelda married Robert Elmer Chander, Jr. in 1957. They had two daughters, Holly Lynn Chandler and Cindy Lou Chandler.

When first moving to Eufaula in 1958, Zelda was a secretary at the field office of the U.S. Corps of Engineers on the project that became Lake Eufaula. Later jobs included: administrative assistant at McIntosh County Health Department; typist for her husband’s business, Chandler Real Estate; and part-owner of Eufaula Jewelers.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Bob; her sons, Steven and Curtis Younger; her brothers, James, Lee, and Raymond Gates, and sister, Dorothy Gates Long.

Survivors include: her daughters, Holly Chandler of Aiken, South Carolina, and Cindy Chandler Crocker and husband, Steve of Tulsa, Oklahoma; granddaughter, Megan Younger Luttrull of Eufaula, Oklahoma; great- granddaughter, Lorean Luttrull of Eufaula, Oklahoma; nephew, Jim Long of Las Vegas, Nevada and his family.

She enjoyed being involved in the lives of these special family members: nephew, Mark Chandler and wife, Peggy of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; Jonathan Chandler, wife Kristin, and their children Sam, Olivia, and Madelyn of Lee’s Summit; and Zachary Chandler and wife, Adrienne of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Zelda was a member of First Baptist Church in Eufaula. She was a member of P.E.O. Chapter T for 51 years, actively serving and being particularly passionate about their program for continuing education. At the time of her death, she held the position of Chairman of the Social Committee, where she enjoyed sending cards and letters to her Sisters on birthdays, holidays and other special events in their lives. Another proud accomplishment for Zelda was her involvement in the fundraising efforts for the construction of Eufaula Memorial Library. She remained interested and active in the library until her death.

Arrangements are with Hunn, Black & Merritt Funeral Home & Crematory. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.hbmfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, 400 W. Foley, Eufaula, OK 74432, www.eufaulafbc.org; PEO Chapter T, c/o Kathy Hunn, 401 N. Main, Eufaula, OK 74432; Eufaula Memorial Library, 301 South First Street, Eufaula, OK 74432, www.eols.org; Porta Caelia Home, P.O. Box 580460, Tulsa, OK 74158, www.portacaeli.org.