Carol Chaney, the second child of Joseph and Hester Johnson, was born in Eastern Montana on September 21, 1932. They lived on the family farm in Brockton, MT prior to moving to the mid-west in 1939. During the war years she attended both grade and high school in Sandoval, IL. She graduated from high school in 1950. Carol entered nurses training at Henrotin Hospital in Chicago, IL and graduated as an RN in 1953.
She moved to Great Falls, MT to work as a nurse and this is where she met her husband-to-be, Ron Chaney. Ron was an Air Force pilot at Malmstrom Air Force base. They were married six weeks after meeting. Carol was an Air Force wife for the next 28 years and lived in many locations both in the United States and overseas. Their son, Jerry, was born on Guam during their two-year tour at Anderson AFB. They also lived in Japan for two years prior to their final Air Force assignment at Dover Air Force Base, DE.
After retirement, they moved to Utah where they started businesses including three retail stores, an apparel distributing business, and a screen printing business. Carol helped manage all. After selling their businesses, Carol and Ron moved to Oak Harbor, WA where she became active in the Oak Harbor United Methodist church, Help House, and the Senior Center. She and Ron enjoyed traveling and visited many places throughout the USA and the world. Carol was a wonderful hostess and loved having people visit and stay with them.
She was preceded in death by Ron (aka RL) who passed away in January of this year. One brother, Homer, also preceded her.
She is survived by her son, Jerry (Maggie) of Salt Lake City, her grandsons Matt (Haddie) and Nick Chaney and her great granddaughter, Zoe Chaney. She is also survived by her sister Marie Vagle (MN) and her brother Keith Johnson (MT).
Found in her journal: “Remember me with smiles and laughter, for my life has been a wondrous BALL. If you can only remember me with tears and sadness, then don’t remember me at all.”
The family would like to thank Right at Home for the wonderful care provided over the past few years. Special thanks & love to her primary caregiver, the daughter she never had, Delaiah Scott. Thanks also to the care provided by WhidbeyHealth Hospice over the past year. A memorial service for both RL & Carol will be held in Spring of 2023.
