Reverend Johnny Chance, 71, of Silsbee, TX passed away Tuesday, March 2, 2021, at his residence. Johnny Ray Chance was born the middle son of W. T. and Francis Chance on September 14, 1949, in Shreveport, Louisiana. He grew up in a minister’s home as his parents started and pastored churches in Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana. At the age of 18, he married Freda Kay Fleetwood. At the age of 19, he was drafted into the U. S. Army and served a tour in Vietnam as a medic and a cook. Following his military service, he attended both Heavy Equipment School in Homestead, Florida and Texas Bible College in Houston, Texas. Three boys, John, Terry, and Randy, were born into the family. Over the years, he pastored churches while working on construction sites operating heavy equipment. A “jack of all trades” he supported his family in many ways. Having started a Home Missions church in Kansas, he worked in a cabinet factory. While pastoring in Arkansas, he drove an 18-wheeler delivering groceries. From being the head of maintenance for an apartment complex to serving as a local policeman and also a deputy sheriff, Johnny was actively involved in making sure his family was taken care of financially. Having retired in 2005 from pastoring, Johnny and Freda moved to Silsbee, Texas to help take care of her mother. It was there, on March 2, 2021, that he quietly and peacefully passed from this life into the hands of the One he had preached about so many times in his life. He will be missed by his family and friends.
Mr. Chance is preceded in death by his parents and brother Harold Chance. Those left to cherish his memory are his loving wife, Freda Chance; sons, John Chance, and wife, Bonnie, Terry Chance and wife Jolie, and Randy Chance and wife Amanda; brothers, James Chance, and wife, Jacque, and sister-in-law, Wilma Chance; sister Diann Tisdale; grandchildren, Jon-Calvin Chance, Ghentry Chance, Landon Chance, Emmitt Chance, Kendall Chance, and Keeley Chance and a host of loving family and friends.
A service of remembrance will be held Saturday, March 6, 2021, at 2:00 PM at Gateway Tabernacle in Kirbyville, TX with Reverend Larry Roberts, Reverend John Chance, and Reverend Danny Lewis officiating interment to follow at R.S Farmer Cemetery. A gathering of family and friends will also be Saturday, March 6, 2021, from 1:00 pm until the time of service.
Honoring Mr. Chance as pallbearers are Terry Chance, Randy Chance, Jon- Calvin Chance, Ghentry Chance, Landon Chance, Kendall Chance, Monte Chance, and Mark Alan Chance.