The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Cecil Norman Chance, 89, of Warren, passed from this life on Oct. 1 and was reunited with his beloved Joan Chance. When Joan passed on July 1, they had been married 71 years and nine months. They will now celebrate their 72nd anniversary on Oct. 2, together once again. Cecil and Joan married on Oct. 2, 1943, in Atlanta, Tx.

Cecil was born on Nov. 9, 1925, in Hemphill, to Cevella Edna Armstrong Chance and Pearl Marlin Chance.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife; parents; sister, Edna Blazek; brothers, William T. Chance, Glenn E. Chance, Sherril R. Chance and W.J. Butch Chance; son-in-law, James H. Bobo and grandchildren, James Bobo, Jr. and Anna Chance.

Cecil is survived by his children, Norma J. Bobo of Silsbee; Deidra A. Hare and her husband, Ralph, of Fannett; Connie S. Townsend and her husband, Al, of League City; George A. “Skip” Chance, Sr. and his wife, Sharon, of Warren and Richard M. Chance and his wife, Carolyn, of Nederland; 12 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

Cecil loved his children, they were all very important to him, but his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren had his heart forever. He found special joy in picking and agitating his grandchildren.

Cecil was a United States Navy veteran of World War II, serving in both Atlantic and Pacific campaigns from June 1944 to Feb. 14, 1946. When he was discharged from the Navy in 1946, he settled in Beaumont. Cecil, Joan and their family then lived in Galveston from 1951 to 1954. They returned to Beaumont in 1954 before moving to Nederland in 1955. Cecil had been a resident of Nederland for the past 60 years until moving to Warren in March of 2015.

After the war Cecil worked at the shipyard in Orange and then for Pittsburg Glass for 23 years. Cecil then returned back to working in the ship yards. Cecil retired from Gulfport Shipyard as a Welding superintendent in 1985.

Cecil owned and operated a mostly family run meat market in the Bridge City area for several years, where he met many people and made numerous friends, many of whom he has kept up with in the years since.

After retiring he operated a Bar B Que business for several years in the mid county area where he served plate lunches and sandwiches daily as well as catering larger events.

Cecil loved the outdoors and enjoyed both hunting and fishing, but his first love was waterfowl hunting. Cecil loved working with and training retrieving dogs.

In Cecil’s later years he became more involved in deer hunting and spent many hours in the East Texas Woods that he had grown to love through his childhood years in Sabine County.

Cecil was a long time member of the Port Neches United Pentecostal Church since 1956, now known as Landmark United Pentecostal Church in Port Neches. Over the years Cecil served many positions, including Sunday School Teacher, Sunday School Superintendent, Board Member and Senior Elder.

After moving to Warren, Cecil became a member of the Faith Tabernacle Pentecostal Church of Hillister, the Rev. David Clark, Pastor, where he was Senior Elder.

Cecil will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him. The church members were more like family. The deer lease will not be the same to the members associated with the lease. Certainly our family gatherings will have two vacancies in our hearts from now on with Mother and Daddy both gone, but they are rejoicing together in Heaven.

A gathering of Mr. Chance’s family and friends will be from 5:00-8:00 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 3, at Landmark United Pentecostal Church, 2115 Nall Street, Port Neches.

A celebration of Cecil’s life will be held at 1:00 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 4, at Landmark United Pentecostal Church in Port Neches. His entombment will follow at Memory Gardens of Jefferson County, Nederland, with all arrangements under the direction of Broussard’s.

In lieu of flowers, Cecil requested memorial contributions be made to Landmark Pentecostal Church Building Fund, 2115 Nall Street, Port Neches, Texas 77651.