Desert Messenger

30 www.DesertMessenger.com December 21, 2016 UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE VFW VFW MEMBERS AND GUESTS NOTE: VFW Auxiliary is collecting coupons you may have that you won't use. These go to the military families who can use them up to 6 months after expiration. Please help us in this endeavor to assist our Veterans. Coupons can be left at Post. We are also collecting labels for the school and National Home for Children. Can leave items at Post Lobby. VFW Post 769 VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS 305 N. Central, Quartzsite, AZ, 928-927-7697 Check at the Post or on the VFW Post 769 website for information on additional activities being planned. www.vfwpost769.org Comrades meet –2nd Saturday each month – 10:00 a.m. at Post Ladies Auxiliary meets – 2nd Saturday in the dining room area at 10:00 a.m. House Committee meeting – 2nd Saturday each month -9:00 a.m. at Post Men's Auxiliary 2nd Saturday each month - 12:00 noon at Post District 1 Riders meeting- 3rd Saturday - Time & Location TBS Now through December we will be accepting a white shower and clothes (new) to take to the Veterans in Prescott. We will also accept (in good condition) clothes for other Veterans needing them. December 23: Fish Fry Friday -- 4:00-6:00 $9.00 donation December 25: MERRY CHRISTMAS! Dinner for Veteran's FREE! Non- Veterans donation $8.50 4-6pm December 26: Monday Night Potato Bar 4pm till gone $5 donation December 27: Chicken Fried Steak 4-6pm December 29: Taco Night 4-6pm $1 ea. Quesadillas $3 Taco Salad $5 donation. Cooks Choice $5-$7 donation. December 30: Fish Fry Friday -- 4:00-6:00 $9.00 donation December 31: New Year's Eve -- Cornbread & beans dinner plus 1 glass champagne. JANUARY 1, 2017: HAPPY NEW YEAR! January 2: Monday Night Potato Bar: 4pm till gone $5 donation January 3: Chicken Fried Steak 4-6pm donation January 5: Taco Night 4-6pm $1 ea. Quesadillas $3 Taco Salad $5 dona- tion. Cooks Choice $5-$7 donation. January 6: Fish Fry Friday 4-6pm $9 donation January 7: Hot Beef Sandwich dinner 4-6pm $7.50 donation January 9: Monday Night Potato Bar 4pm till gone $5 donation January 10: Chicken Fried Steak 4-6pm donation January 12: Taco Night 4-6pm $1 ea. Quesadillas $3 Taco Salad $5 dona- tion. Cooks Choice $5-$7 donation. January 13 Fish Fry Friday: 4-6pm $9 donation January 14 VFW & Auxiliary meetings 10am January 14 Prime Rib Dinner 4-6pm $15 donation. Sign up & Prepay in canteen January 16 Monday Night Potato Bar 4pm till gone $5 donation January 17: Chicken Fried Steak 4-6pm donation January 19 Taco Night 4-6pm $1 ea. Quesadillas $3 Taco Salad $5 dona- tion. Cooks Choice $5-$7 donation. January 20: Fish Fry Friday 4-6pm $9 donation January 21 Steak Fry Dinner 4-6pm $12.50 donation. Sign up & prepay in Canteen In Memoriam Chaunce Willis Hamilton Chaunce Willis Hamilton of Quartzsite Arizona passed away on December 14th, 2016 at his home in Quartzsite after a bravely fought battle with cancer. He received hospice ser- vices from River Valley Home Care & Hospice this past month, which helped him fulfi ll his wish to die at home. He was born in Groom Texas to Marvie and Clara Hamilton on July 3rd, 1924. Chaunce turned 92 on July 3rd this year. Chaunce moved to Blythe California at the age of four with his parents and his four siblings, Vurl (Hamilton) Todd, J.C. Hamilton, D.L. Hamilton, and Clois Hamilton. He was the last surviving member of his family of origin. Chaunce attended school in Blythe, and upon his high school graduation in 1943, was drafted into the Army with his close friends D.L. Summers and Grady Lazenby. He was trained as a fi eld medic and served in a fi eld hospital in the Fiji Islands, and then a general hospital in Calcutta, India during World War II. Chaunce returned to Blythe after the service in 1946, and married Doris Jean Rice on De- cember 29, 1946 after a whirlwind romance. He and Doris settled in Blythe and raised a family with four children; Bob, Karen, Randy and Darleen. The family moved to Cherry Val- ley in 1962 to be closer to medical services for Darleen, who was born in 1960 with spina bifi - da and passed away in 1974 at 14 years of age. Chaunce was severly burned in an ac- cident at the Texaco refueling station in Blythe in early 1947 that nearly took his life. But he recovered fully and went back to work and fathered four children. He worked in Blythe as a Sparklett's Wa- ter distributor, ran his own service sta- tion, and Carnation Company as a route salesman. Chaunce endured many, many health challenges throughout his life, each one testing his faith. But he was always faithful and determined to return to good health and his duties. Chaunce served as a deacon at the First Baptist Church in Blythe for many years, where he fi rst accepted Christ and became a steadfast Christian. When the family moved to Cherry Valley, they joined the Brethern Church. Chaunce took on the role of Superintendent for the Christian school affi liated with the church. After retiring Chaunce and Doris moved from Cherry Valley to Banning, then Pine Cove in the Idyllwild area. They also cared for Chaunce's father in law, Clarence Rice at his Beaumont home for nearly ten years. Fi- nally having some time for themselves, they traveled the US and Canada, as well as taking a European trip. Following that, they traveled to Hawaii and fell in love with the islands. They moved to the Island of Hawaii, in an area south of Hilo. After a few years they returned to California and resettled in Beaumont. But it wasn't long before the ocean called them to a lovely home overlooking the San Luis Rey river and Pacifi c Ocean in Oceanside. Following those years, they came to Quartzsite in 1984 and developed Rice Ranch, a camp and sell park on the south side of town. They really enjoyed the hard work and meeting all the folks who came to stay from all over North America. They relinquished management of Rice Ranch eight years ago to Sean and Ann Austin, but remain on the property in support of the Ranch. Sean and Ann have become like family to Chaunce and Doris. Along with Doris, Sean and Ann have also per- sonally cared for Chaunce as his health declined these past few months. Wherever they were, Chaunce and Doris always joined a church that preached the gospel of Jesus Christ and spiritually and fi - nancially supported that church. For many years, they have also supported missionaries all over the world. They are now members of the Community Bible Church of Quartzsite. When Chaunce turned 90 in 2014, his fam- ily had a party for him at the First Baptist Church in Blythe where nearly 80 family members and friends celebrated this event. Chaunce is survived by his wife of near- ly 70 years (just two weeks short), Doris (Rice) Hamilton, and three of his four chil- dren, Bob, Karen (Rumore) and Randy. Chaunce's seven grandchildren include, Carrie (Meyer), Robert J, Randy Jr, Mi- chael, Jeff, Kelsey and Wendy. His great eight grandchildren include Richard, Cody, Mariah (Meyer), Mason (Meyer),Jay, Van, Annalyn and Jayden. Chaunce is also sur- vived by neice Becki (Phipps), and neph- ews Jim (Martin), Ken, Don, and Dennis. Chaunce was preceded in death by his mother, father, sister, three brothers and three nephews, Ron, Teddy (Todd), Terry (Todd), and one niece Jeanette (Todd). Services for Chaunce was held at the Frye Chapel and Mortuary in Blythe on Monday, December 19. Pastor Mike Glines of the Community Bible Church of Quartzsite offi ciated the services. Following the service Chaunce was trans- ported to Mountain View Cemetery in Beaumont California for interment. There will be a gravesite service, offi ciated by Pastor Scott Mason of the Beaumont Presbyterian Church, where Chaunce at- tended while a resident there. A special thanks to (granddaughter & hus- band) Carrie and Matt Meyer, and (niece & husband) Becki and Richard Phipps for their timely help with these arrangements.

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