Morrell "Spence" Spencer Chamberlain

Spence was born in Stockton, California on April 19, 1927 to Morris S. Chamberlain and Elizabeth L. Hoyt Chamberlain. At the age of nine, he was placed in the care of his loving grandparents, Morrell and Alma Chamberlain of Seattle, Washington, and an extended family of Aunts and Uncles. As a teenager, he built and compete with "U-control" model airplanes.

A member of the Class of '45 at Ballard High School, Spence joined the Navy Air Corps when he turned eighteen, and served during the last months of WWII at a Naval Air Base in El Centro, California, where he serviced and maintained aircraft. He was honorably discharged from the United States Navy in '46.

After his discharge, Spence was employed at the Ballard Ice Arena as "Ice Guard" and Rink Maintenance. It was there that he met Claire Strong, and they were married on July 23, 1948.

Meanwhile, Boeing had hired Spence to build and test models in the Wind Tunnel. In the decade that followed, he designed and built two homes for his family, which grew to include five children. During the next decade, he founded the Ornamental Stone Company, creating planters (and later, fountains, benches, trash cans, and etcetera) in the garage of his Northeast Seattle home.

In the 1970s, Spence decided to revive the Seattle Soap Box Derby, which had been dormant for many years, and he served as Director for several years.

Especially rewarding was his participation with the Lake City Lions Club, in raising funds for the purchase of a Medic One aid car and SFD#39.

In addition to his accomplishments of the '70s, Spence built a third home in Allyn, Washington, where he subsequently built a factory for Ornamental Stone in the '80s. Spence's son, Keith Chamberlain, continues to manage the family business at the same location.

Retiring from Boeing after a career of forty years, Spence learned of his illustrious great-grandfather, Judge John Philo Hoyt, and began a three-year focus on his genealogy, compiling an impressive amount of history and photographs for his family.

Survivors, in addition to his wife Claire, are daughters, Lynne (Randy) Waldher, Laurel (Bill) Hughes, Evelyn Sawyer, their sons, Mark (Teri) Chamberlain, Keith (Stacey) Chamberlain, their grandsons, Travis, Brent, and Joe Waldher, Richard, Tom and Philip Sawyer, their granddaughters, Brynne and Annie Chamberlain, and their great-grandchildren, Ashlyn and Emma Sawyer, Lother and Nixie Waldher, and Nate and Pete Waldher.

Also surviving are Spence's sister, Bernadine (Robert) Banathy, his brother, Jim (Jackie) Chamberlain, his cousins, John Ghiglione, Richard Hansen, Douglas Hansen, Lynda Gucker, Jane Lagerstrom, Howard Lagerstrom, and their families.

Spence was predeceased by his brother, John Chamberlain, and his cousin, Ronald Hansen.