Clair Deloise Chacey, 90, of Allegan died Tuesday, July 4, 2017, at Wings Home Hospice Care in Allegan. Clair was born Oct. 31, 1926, on the family farm south of Ollie, Iowa to George I. and Opal L. Chacey.
He married Dorothy Klontz on Aug. 30, 1947. Clair and Dorothy lived in the Packwood, Iowa community until 2000 when they moved to Allegan. They would have happily celebrated 70 years of marriage this coming August.
Clair attended Bellville country school in Iowa through the seventh grade and graduated in 1944 from Ollie High School, Ollie Iowa. After graduation he began farming, enjoying raising crops and livestock until 1978.
In addition to farming he had worked as a builder and after 1978, continued his career as a carpenter, cabinet maker and craftsman.
Clair never truly retired, continuing until the very end to help his children and grandchildren with projects and plans.
Clair was a devout family man. He was interested and involved in the lives of his children and grandchildren until the end.
He loved life and all the beauties this world had to offer. He captured this in his photographs, amassing 262 photo albums of family, special events, vacations and all of the beauty he saw in Gods creations.
Clair loved the Lord. He was a member of the Ollie Baptist Church until 2000 when he and Dorothy moved to Allegan. He was currently a member of the First Congregational Church in Allegan. Once when asked what lesson he learned that was most valuable he said, “always be kind to everyone.”
Clair was a 50-year life member of the Masonic Lodge in Iowa as of Aug. 7, 2003, beginning his brotherhood in 1953 at Abingdon Lodge #104, Abingdon, Iowa. He joined Allegan Masonic Lodge #111 on Aug. 12, 2004. Clair was devoted to the Masonic Lodge and all of his Masonic brothers.
He was preceded in death by his parents and infant sister; also his beloved son-in-law Stephen Vaughn; a great-granddaughter Morgan Ford; and great-grandson Joshua Ford.
Also preceding Clair are his parents-in-law, John and Verna Klontz; and his brothers and sisters-in-law, Darlene Klontz, Helen Montgomery, Harold Klontz, Maynard Klontz, Marjory and Richard Hill, Larry Davis; and his nieces Carrie Jane Davis and Marjorie (Montgomery) Mason .
Clair is survived by his wife Dorothy;children, Mary Jeanine (Dennis) Johnson of Allegan, Ronald Keith (Leigh-Ann) Chacey of Racine, Wis., Theresa Ann Vaughn of Paw Paw, and Gary Clair (Anna) Chacey of Rio Rancho, N.M.; nine grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; sister-in-law Mary Davis of Bowling Green, Fla.; and several nieces and a nephew.
A Masonic funeral service, officiated by Al Claxton, will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 8, at Gordon Funeral Residence in Allegan. Interment will follow at Hudson Corners Cemetery, Allegan.
Friends may visit with the family beginning at 9:30 a.m. at Gordon Funeral Residence, prior to the 11 a.m. funeral service.
Clair requested no flowers. Please make a donation to the organization or charity closest to your heart.