George Edmond Chandler

George Edmond Chandler was born on January 28, 1939 in Camden, Texas, to Charles O’Hara Chandler and Alma Sellars Chandler. Though he was an only child, he was raised with a whole crew of cousins that he loved like brothers and sisters. He moved to Orange, Texas in the first grade, when his father became superintendent of the Orange, Texas school district. He attended Stark High School through February of his junior year. As an all-around athlete, George played football, baseball and tennis. When his father became superintendent of Victoria public schools, George moved with his parents to Victoria to finish his junior year and, as luck would have it, Patti Welder High School had one of the best tennis programs in the state. George became a star player, and developed a love for the sport that would last his entire life.

After graduating, George attended Baylor University on a full tennis scholarship. He was a three-year letterman from 1957-1959, and was voted a Baylor Outstanding Athlete in 1960. In 1957, he met a pretty freshman named Martha Jane Reichert, from nearby Yoakum, Texas, and they were married in August of 1960, at the age of 21. George graduated from Baylor and continued on to Baylor Law School and served as Editor of the Baylor Law Review.

After graduation, George began work with the Corpus Christi personal injury law firm, Edwards and DeAnda. In January of 1964, his daughter Kelly Jane was born. Later that year, George joined the firm of Burke and Leach in Diboll, Texas.

In the spring of 1966, when Martha was three months pregnant, George and Martha took a trip to New York City with friends. While there, George suffered a stroke, and was told he would never walk again. He was determined not to accept this prognosis, and immediately began the grueling work required to regain his strength and function. Defying all odds, he was already learning to walk again when their son Reich O’Hara was born on December 28, 1966.

In 1972, George decided to branch out on his own and started his own law firm. He felt a calling to represent injured people and to stand up for those who had no voice. He often said that he felt guided and shaped by his favorite Bible verse, Matthew 25:40, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

George was elected President of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association in 2002, an organization he has been involved with since 1974. Additionally, he is a member of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. He is a Diplomate of both the American Board of Trial Advocates and the National Board of Trial Advocacy, and has served on various committees of the State Bar of Texas.

George received the Texas Bar Foundation Ronald D. Secrest Award in 2009. He received the TTLA Lifetime Achievement Award for contributions to the justice system. In the same year, George was honored as the Baylor Lawyer of the Year by Baylor Law School. He was a Jaworski Fellow at Baylor Law School and frequently spoke at the law center, sharing his trial advocacy expertise with the Practice Court students. In 2015, the Litigation Section of the State Bar of Texas inducted George as a Texas Legal Legend.

One of the greatest honors and joys of George’s life was the opportunity to practice law with his son, Reich. They worked closely together from 1995 until 2006, when Reich passed away after battling cancer. Despite our sadness these last days, we’ve found comfort knowing Reich was there to welcome his beloved Dad home, and picturing the sweetness of that heavenly reunion.

George and Martha have always been active in First Baptist Church, where George taught Sunday School for 50 years, and also served on the Board of Trustees. George was committed to fitness and exercise, never letting the weakness from his stroke slow him down.

George is predeceased by his parents, Alma and O’Hara Chandler, and his son, Reich O’Hara Chandler. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Martha Jane Reichert Chandler, his daughter Kelly Jane Chandler Michaels and her husband Jimmy, his grandchildren Chandler Lee Michaels Hartman and her husband Ben, his grandson Charles Thomas Michaels, granddaughter Sydney Harper Chandler, and her parents and brother, Neil and Nancy West, and Miller West, as well as numerous cousins that he loved.

Along with George’s love for the Lord and his family, he also loved Baylor University and Baylor Law School. He rarely missed a Baylor home game, and talked to all of his Tryon Coterie/ Phi Delta Theta fraternity brothers and his former athlete friends multiple times a day about all things Baylor. One of his favorite places to be was on the porch at his ranch in Wimberley, Texas where he happily spent his last days.

The family will receive visitors on Wednesday, May 21, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Reich Chandler Great Hall at First Baptist Church in Lufkin. The funeral service will be held in the sanctuary at First Baptist Church at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 22, 2025.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be sent to the Reich O'Hara Chandler Endowed Memorial Scholarship Fund at Baylor Law School baylor.edu/gchandler or to the Building Fund at First Baptist Church Lufkin, 106 East Bremond Avenue, Lufkin, Texas 75904 fbclufkin.org/capital

Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.