Gene "Lavon" Chaney

Gene “Lavon” Chaney, 91, passed away Thursday, July 4, 2019. The funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 9, 2019 at the First United Methodist Church in Moody, Texas, with grandson Patrick Chaney officiating and Butch Perkins providing the music. The visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Interment will follow in Moody Cemetery, Moody, Texas.

Lavon was born on October 1, 1927 to Raymond Lee Chaney and Thelma Taylor Chaney. The family moved to McDade where Raymond and Thelma taught school. They moved back to Moody in 1943, and Lavon graduated from Moody High School in 1945. In Moody, Lavon met and married the precious mother of his children, Gladys McNiel Chaney, on March 28, 1946. After serving in the Merchant Marines, during WWII, he went to work for William Cameron in Waco, which later became Ideal Co. Lavon was Director of Product Development and Manager of Engineering for the Ideal Metal Plant facility. He was also a member of the Waco Junior Chamber of Commerce.

Lavon was a true disciple of God. He was very active in the Methodist church where he taught Sunday School, was an Associate District Lay Leader, District Director of Lay Speaking, and Conference Director of Lay Speaking. He served as chairman of many boards showing his love for God. When he was not at his home church, on Sunday, he was preaching at another church in the district.

There was never a more loving husband, father, or grandfather. He and Gladys had a marriage that was truly made in Heaven. It was an unselfish love guided by their strong Christian beliefs. There was always love and laughter in the house. Every family member knew that they were loved and prayed for daily. When Gladys was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Lavon became her constant, loving caregiver. When she could no longer communicate, he would sit with her and hold her hand. The family was heartbroken when she died, and everyone missed her terribly. As heartbroken as he was, Lavon still did everything he could to help others. He would cook and take food to the shut-ins and did anything needed for the church, from serving on committees and repairing things that needed repair to buying all the food required to serve at the men’s breakfasts, held by several of the churches in Moody. He was truly God’s servant, and we were all blessed to have him in our lives.

Lavon was preceded in death by his loving wife, Gladys; father and mother, Raymond and Thelma Chaney; brother, R.L. Chaney; and sister, Elizabeth Chapin.

He is survived by daughter Jeannie Perkins of Spring, Texas; son, Rick Chaney, of Brownsville, Texas; his grandchildren, whom he dearly loved, Sandra Van Alstine of Tomball, Jeff Sebastian of Sugarland, Anthony Sebastian and Amanda Ishee of Spring, Michael Chaney of Round Rock, and Patrick and Spencer Chaney of Georgetown; 16 great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews who adored him.