In Memory of Greg A. Chandler
Gregory Alan Chandler, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and pastor stepped into eternity on June 29, 2026. He passed peacefully at home surrounded by his family after a brief two-month battle with metastasized pancreatic cancer. He was 71 years old.
Greg was born in Arkansas City, KS on August 29, 1955 to Ervin (Red) and Irene (Riley) Chandler. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother- law, David Lingo. He is survived by his wife of 48 years Ruth (Sullivan), his two children Jennifer (husband Jeremiah Tucker), Timothy (wife Carmen) and 6 grandchildren; Bethanne, Melody, Tate, (Jennifer): Neva, Esther, Oliver (Timothy), his sister, Barbara (Chandler) Lingo and many nieces and nephews.
Greg answered the call to the ministry at the age of 13. After he graduated high school he attended Independent Baptist College in Dallas, TX where he received his BA in Bible. Greg met his wife Ruth at IBC. They were married in Judsonia, AR on May 27, 1978. They resided in Dallas until they moved to Colorado Springs, CO in December of 1979.Greg was ordained as a Minister, by Grace Baptist Church, in August of 1981. Greg served there as Associate Pastor and Music Director until he resigned in 1988.
Later in 1988, Greg was asked by 4 couples to start a church in Colorado Springs. This core group started what is now Freedom Baptist Church. He served as their pastor for 38 years, until his death. As pastor, he touched many lives. This included birth dedications, baptisms, weddings and funerals. Greg’s legacy is generational.
Greg was always a bi-vocational Pastor, He worked for 22 years as an insurance adjuster for USAA. Later, he worked for El Paso County. First in the DMV and finally in the Elections Department. He retired from El Paso County in 2024.
Greg was gifted with an amazing full tenor voice which he used to glorify his Lord and Savior. He blessed so many with his music. In church and many organizations, here in Colorado Springs and along the Front Range. He was a part of Song Spinners for 12 years. Greg sang with One Voice Mission, Jerry Nelson’s Hymn Sings, and Doyle Combs American Patriots Jazz Orchestra. He touched many with his music, both young and old.
Greg enjoyed singing, and it showed, but his first love was always the teaching of God’s Word. Greg told us, “The music is great, but what is more important is the teaching of God’s Word.” He has left us a tremendous library of his notes, studies and sermons. This will be his Legacy.
Greg has left a hole in the lives of those who loved him, his teaching, his music, his laughter and his crazy sense of humor. He is missed terribly. However, we can all rejoice that he is in the presence of his Lord and Savior that he lived to serve.
Greg's Little Sayings
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Church is on Sunday morning because of Saturday night
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I'm doing the work of 3 men - Larry, Moe, and Curly!
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Most church folks don't mind having the wool pulled over their eyes, but they do mind getting fleeced! Courtesy Dennis Craig
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This faith ministry is going down the tubes if you don't give!
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Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Prophet's Meeting is cancelled tonight (Huh?)
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If you let the dogs out, don't complain about the barking!
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I saw a bumper sticker, “Nature is my church.” I guess he can’t get along with other folks
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Those that blame God for suffering acknowledge there is a power greater than themselves; at least they're not atheists
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On church arguments - it's always about control
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Church is no more than a handrail on a set of stairs! Courtesy Johnie Jackson
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We're not the worst church you'll ever attend!
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Ya gotta dance with the lady what brung ya!
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When in doubt, sing!
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If you’re feeling down and faithless, wait three days, you’ll feel better; in the meantime, clean something, at least you’ll be doing something good
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It’s not just what you believe that matters; it’s how you hold what you believe
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Humility: if you have to advertise it, you ain’t got it
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When you’ve done all you can, have faith; oh, no, has it come to that?
To My Papa
Most of you knew him as Greg. I knew him as my Papa, and I couldn’t have asked for a better one.
One of the greatest gifts I was ever given was getting to make him a Papa. I will always hold onto the fact that I was the person who gave him that name. Because Papa was never just a word. It was something that belonged to us. It represented a bond, a love, and a relationship that meant more to me than I could ever fully explain.
It’s hard to put into words what someone means to you when they’ve been such a big part of your life. I’ve started and rewritten this so many times because no matter what I write, it never feels like enough. How do you sum up a lifetime of love?
From the day I was born until the day my Papa passed away, I had 8,355 days with him. Those days gave me a lifetime of love, laughter, lessons, and memories. Even though I wish that number could have been so much bigger, I am incredibly thankful for every single day we were given. Looking back, I realize it was never about how many days we had. It was about how full he made each one feel.
My Papa and I had a bond that I will always be grateful for. Ever since I was little, we had our own tradition. He would smile at me and say, “You’re the best,” and I would smile right back and say, “I know.” It was something so simple, but it meant everything to us. Those five little words became our way of saying, “I love you.” It didn’t matter how old I got; we never stopped doing it.
Since Papa passed, Grammy has been saying those words to me because she knows how much they mean. It makes me smile, and it reminds me of him. But I would give anything to hear him say, “You’re the best,” just one more time.
When I think of Papa, I don’t think about one big moment. I think about all the little moments that made up our life together. I think about sitting and talking with him for hours. I think about the way he could always make me laugh. I think about his hugs that somehow made everything feel okay. I think about our FaceTime calls, hearing his voice, and seeing his smile on my phone screen.
One of my favorite memories is singing with Papa. He had the most amazing singing voice, and I loved every chance I got to sing with him. One song that will always remind me of him is "You Are My Sunshine." It was a song that Papa and Grammy sang to me when I was little, and as I got older, it became a song that Papa and I would sing together.
No matter how many times we sang it, it never got old. At the time, it was just one of those little moments we shared, but now I realize those are the moments I will treasure forever. Every time I hear that song, I’ll think of his voice, his smile, and the love behind every time we sang it together. It reminds me that even though I can’t make new memories with him, I will always have the ones we made.
Those moments are the ones I’ll hold onto forever. We weren’t trying to impress anyone. We were simply enjoying being together. Looking back now, I realize those simple moments often become the most extraordinary.
I know so many people have their own stories about Papa—stories that show who he was and the way he made people feel loved. But to me, he was so much more than that. He wasn’t just my grandpa; he was my Papa.
He was one of the most important people in my life and someone I loved with my whole heart. He was the person I could always turn to, the person who made me feel safe, and the person who always made sure I knew how loved I was.
I never had to question how much he cared about me because he showed it in so many ways—in the little moments, the conversations, the laughs we shared, and simply by always being there. The love I had for my Papa is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Losing him has left a space in my heart that can never be filled, but I will forever be grateful that I got to be his granddaughter and that I got to experience the kind of love and bond that we shared.
There are days when I still want to pick up my phone to call him or FaceTime him just to tell him about something that happened. I miss hearing his laugh. I miss hearing him sing. I miss his hugs. I miss hearing him tell me, “You’re the best.”
One memory I will always hold close to my heart is the last time Papa and Grammy came to Ketchikan to visit and to see their first grandson, Tate, graduate. Having them there meant so much to me, and I am so thankful we had that time together.
The day they left to go back home to Colorado, Papa and I hugged goodbye. At that moment, he promised me that he would be okay. That promise is something I will carry with me forever. And even though I wish more than anything that he was still here with us, I know he kept that promise.
Papa never broke a promise to me, and I know he didn’t break this one either. He is okay. He is at peace.
Even though he’s no longer here with us, I know he’s never truly gone. He’s in every memory we share. He’s in every song that reminds me of him. He’s in every laugh that sounds a little like his. He’s in the love he gave all of us, because love like that never disappears.
Even now, I still find myself looking for him in the small, everyday moments—as if I might somehow catch his laugh in a crowd or hear his voice in a familiar place. And in a way, I do. Because everything he taught me and every bit of love he gave me is something I carry into every day of my life.
Papa, thank you for loving me so completely. Thank you for every conversation, every hug, every laugh, every song we sang together, and every memory you’ve given me. Thank you for believing in me, encouraging me, and making me feel so incredibly loved. I hope you knew just how much I loved you, too.
I will carry you with me for the rest of my life—in the way I love others, in the stories I tell, and in the little traditions I’ll never let go of.
And today, even though I can’t hear your voice, I know exactly what you would say to me.
"You're the best."
And just like always, I'd smile and say...
"I know."
I love you, Papa. Thank you for being the best Papa I could have ever asked for.
Love always,
Your First Granddaughter,
Bethanne Lea Tucker
Papa Greg and Grammy Ruth have always been mine and my sisters bonus set of grandparents. Although not related by blood, they welcomed us in every week as though we were. Papa Greg had the most contagious smile and Charlotte and I would wait eagerly for him to get home so we could have dinner. More often than not, we would have meatloaf and homemade bread and, as we liked to say, "peas and carrots and carrots and peas". When we moved to the UK I was heartbroken to be saying goodbe to the people who brought so much joy and peace into my life and helped teach me to love God from such a young age. The last time I saw Papa Greg was at my Nonna, Debbie Rogers', funeral. I had not seen him for years because Covid made it so difficult to get back. But both him and Grammy Ruth hugged us as if it had only been a week and asked how we were like they always had. I did not know that would be the last time I saw him, but I am so grateful to have had the chance when I did. Papa Greg I miss you and the trips to the pool, ridge and to see the animals at the ranch. I miss the hours of playng with Play-Doh and tie-dyeing shirts. I miss sitting in the same seat at every dinner and praying and then talking about our clouds and rainbows of the week. I miss the princess beds and watching Rio with you. But most of all I miss your smile and you laugh, and your voice that made me love so many songs. We couldn't make it to the funeral today but we all sat together in remembrance. Even Sebastian sat up until 10.30pm - you would have loved him Papa Greg. We love you so much and despite how deeply you will be missed, I am so happy that you are finally home.
From the scriptures: greater love has no one than this, that they lay down their life for their friends. In likewise fashion, no greater GIFT can one CHOOSE to give than to share the most precious moments of their mortality, the end of their life, with another.
Greg, my brother, gave this very gift to me, for which I will be eternally grateful!
In the final days of his life Greg asked me to come over several times and pray with him, as late as two days before he passed away. And so---we prayed. We prayed to God the Father, his and our Maker. And we prayed about Greg going back Home (heaven), the place where his and our Maker is. And for sure, there is no greater truth than this: THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME---the place where Christ said He was going to prepare a place for us, where in His Father's house there are many mansions.
Greg is Home! No more sorrow, no more suffering, no more pain. Just eternal joy, happiness and LOVE---God's infinite and unfathomable LOVE!
I rejoice with Greg!!!
As I held Greg's hand for what I knew would be the last time, Greg gave me yet another gift, a bridge to my own immortality. Greg was leaving, half here and half there. He gave me a glimpse into eternity. Christ removed the sting of death. There is only peace and joy to come. Greg, through Christ, shared with me that peace.
THANK YOU BROTHER!!! I love you!!!
Lynn Stone
Greg was an amazing pastor and great person, my wife and I got to see him for the Easter special singing away as he has always done so great. It was my wife first time hearing him and instantly she goes “DANG, he’s really good!” I want to pray to his wife and family and thank them for the many years they have taken care of us and always welcoming. In Jesus name we pray AMEN!
LOVE JOSHUA AND NICOLE TUCKER
Heavens choir just got a lot louder. See you again Greg.
This was sent to Greg before he passed.
Greg,
You have been so much more than just a friend to our family. You played a huge role in my upbringing and, most importantly, in building the foundation of my faith and relationship with God.
You have been a mentor, an example, and like an uncle to me. You were also a life and marriage coach for Brandon and me during the early years of our marriage. I feel incredibly blessed that you were able to officiate our wedding, and it will always be one of my most cherished memories.
Thank you for always opening your home to us, for the countless conversations surrounding our book studies, and for helping us understand how they related to God’s teachings and our daily lives. Those moments meant more than you probably realized.
You have always been a kind, selfless, and faithful man who poured so much of yourself into others. Thank you for all the years you invested in Freedom Baptist, and for the countless lives you touched through your ministry. The impact you have made reaches far beyond what you will ever fully know.
You are deeply loved and appreciated. I will surely miss you and will mourn when you leave this earth. While I am far from a perfect person, I hold tightly to the hope and promise of our faith—that this is not goodbye forever, and that one day I will see you again.
Until then, I pray that your days are filled with peace, comfort, and the overwhelming love of your family and friends. Thank you for the role you have played in my life and in the lives of so many others. Your legacy will continue long after you leave this earth.
With love,
Kellie Mayes and family