Carrie Jo Chandlee

Carrie Jo Chandlee, 92, of Fountain Hills, passed away peacefully on March 29, 2014. Carrie Jo had been a resident since her husband retired 25 years ago.

Carrie Jo was born on a cotton farm in Mesa on Dec. 4, 1921. She moved at a very young age to San Pedro, Calif. with her two older brothers, Bill and Denny Bullock. She loved piano, singing, dancing and acting. She was Honored Queen of Jobs Daughters in high school.

She was fascinated by learning and achieved her B.S. degree at Long Beach State, Calif. and a Master’s Degree in psychology at San Jose State, Calif.

She was a fabulous cook, a member of P.E.O., a member of the Herb Society and loved playing bridge. She wanted to make the world a better place and she certainly achieved that with her kind and caring ways.

Carrie Jo is survived by her loving husband, Joe Chandlee of Fountain Hills; her daughter and son-in-law, Drs. Joey and Mark Omlie; granddaughters, Jaime Antonen (Matt), Jessica Seubert (Chase), Christina Omlie; and grandson, Dr. Jim Omlie; great-grandsons, Blake and Griffen Antonen; her cat, Jinxie; nieces and nephews, Barbara, Elizabeth, Bill, Bob, and Mike; and her special caretaker, Christine Ramos.

Carrie Jo met her husband of 68 and one half years, Joe Chandlee, a navy officer during World War II. Joe describes it as a once in a million chance meeting. He saw her at a hotel roof top dance club in Long Beach, Calif. and asked her to dance. He was not good at dancing, but he liked who was in his arms. She was the love of his life and he was the love of hers.

They married on July 15, 1945 in San Pedro, Calif. They lived in California and then moved around the country due to Joe’s job with Chrysler Corporation.

Their daughter, Joey, was born in Los Angeles in 1949. Carrie Jo was such a fun and loving mother and best friend. She enjoyed singing rock and roll songs in her opera voice, saying it kept her in touch with the youth.

She loved to be with Joey and her friends. She was always available for a good laugh or to share her wisdom with the teenagers. She shared her unconditional love, encouragement, understanding, patience and kindness with everyone she encountered, thereby being the greatest mentor Joey could ever have. Joey describes her as the best and most beautiful mom on the planet.

Her grandchildren called her Noni and they all loved her dearly. They describe her as a sweet, gentle, and loving person who had a heart of gold. They loved her laugh and could always count on her to “get the joke” and find little things funny.

She had this ability to make people feel welcome and at ease around her. She always took the time to do fun things with her grandchildren and loved getting to know their friends. She genuinely loved everyone and everything and she passed that on.

She had the biggest sweet tooth and it was always okay to eat dessert first or ice cream for breakfast at Noni’s. She had a true love for life. She was a classy, elegant woman and the kindest, most beautiful and fun grandmother. She was the one and only Noni.

Arrangements entrusted to Messinger Fountain Hills Mortuary.