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Patsy Mae Sanderson Chaney
Patsy Mae Sanderson Chaney, 71, loving wife, mother, aunt, grandmother and great grandmother of Meridian, Idaho, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, May 17th, 2009 after a hard fought battle with cancer.
Patsy was born on July 14, 1937 in Del Rio, Texas to William and Lucy Sanderson. She was the youngest of four children, growing up on a ranch in southwest Texas along with her brothers William and Robert and her sister Betty. Her father had some parts as an actor in silent films of the western genre, and she loved to tell stories of his exploits. Patsy was also very proud of the fact that she had Cherokee and Apache in her family tree. She loved to show her children pictures of her grandmother in full Cherokee Indian dress. She attended school in Del Rio, Texas. After school, she worked with her father and siblings on their ranch, as well as various other jobs “in town” away from the ranch. While working one of these “in town” jobs she met and fell in love with her husband to be. On September 16th, 1960, she married Airman 1st Class David Chaney, of Adrian, Oregon, who was stationed at Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, Texas. When David’s Air Force enlistment was up, he and Patsy chose to make Del Rio their home. They became parents to four wonderful children while living and working in Del Rio. While Del Rio was the starting point for this family, it was by no means the only place they would call home. Through various construction projects they lived in Ozona, Texas, Caldwell, Idaho, Shafter, Texas, Big Lake, Texas and Meridian, Idaho. During this time Patsy wrote poetry, was a nurse’s aid at various health facilities, earned her certification as an EMT, and held various other full- and part-time jobs. She would do what was needed to help support her family in any way possible, choosing to work with the elderly in some capacity on most occasions. She was always caring and giving, and was a wonderful, caring wife, mother and grandmother. She was also a great cook and her lime pickles and Santa Claus cookies will be greatly missed at holidays and family gatherings. Later in life she became known as “Grandma MeMe”. “Grandma MeMe” could be found at every school play, school musical, soccer, baseball, basketball and football game admiring the talents of her beloved grandchildren and their friends. At some point she became known simply as “Grandma MeMe” to all of the kids, whether they were related or not. She lived life on her terms and always filled a room with warmth and joy. She had a wry sense of humor and never lost her Texas accent, which she proudly used to the fullest, whether telling a story of her childhood or telling a joke to a grandchild. She loved her brothers Bill and Bob and her sister Betty, and told many heartwarming stories of growing up on a ranch and the interesting things that they all did as kids. Through the years she may have moved away from her family in Texas, but she never forgot them and took every opportunity to see them. When Patsy and her sister got together it was as if all the years had never passed and they were once again mischievous school girls. Patsy definitely lived life to the fullest. Her youngest daughter had Cerebral Palsy, and she worked tirelessly to help her daughter to live her life to the fullest and in the most normal way possible. Life dealt her quite a setback when her youngest daughter passed away in November of 2002. After this painful loss she was then diagnosed with cancer a couple of years later. Patsy fought cancer as she had fought every other challenge in her life, and after being close to losing the fight she miraculously beat it back. To her doctor’s amazement she woke from a coma and was home soon after. For three years she improved and carried on through various treatments and procedures. Once again the cancer returned and unfortunately it was too powerful this final time.
Patsy is survived by her loving husband, David Chaney of Meridian, Idaho; daughter Janna Miller and her husband Lyle Miller of Kuna, Idaho; son Clifford Chaney of Midland, Texas; son Robert Chaney of Meridian, Idaho; grandchildren Kylie, Kaitlyn and Parker Miller of Kuna, Idaho, Miranda Barnes of Sand Springs, Texas, Jeremy and Zachary Chaney of Midland, Texas and great grandchild Brooklyn Barnes of Sand Springs, Texas. She is also survived by her sister, Betty Davee of Del Rio, Texas, as well as numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and her beloved dogs Debris and Kaylie.
Patsy was preceded in death by her daughter Debra Chaney in November of 2002, her mother Lucy Sanderson, her father William Sanderson, her brother William (Bill) Sanderson, her brother Robert (Bob) Sanderson and lastly by her beloved Teacup Terrier Comet.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 22nd, 2009 at Dakan Funeral Chapel, 504 S. Kimball Ave., Caldwell, Idaho 83605. Family viewing will be Thursday May 21st, 2009 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with public viewing from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Dakan Chapel. Burial will take place at Canyon Hill Cemetery following services. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family using their online guestbook at www.dakanfuneralchapel.com
Published May 21, 2009
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