Frances Herndon Chandler

Frances Jane Herndon Heller Chandler, died Friday, September 2, 2016 in Tulsa, OK. She was born on September 9, 1924 in Tulsa, OK. She was the daughter of Chesley Coleman and Ethel Dunn Herndon. Mr. Herndon was co-founder of Skelly Oil Co. and served as Executive Vice President, was a member of the Board of Directors as well as Chief Legal Counsel. Mrs. Herndon was a Concert Pianist, the sister of Oklahoma Chief Justice Jesse J. Dunn, and was a member of the faculty of Oklahoma College for Women in Chickasha, OK where she founded the Music Department. She was appointed by four governors to serve as a Regent of the college. Mrs. Chandler attended Lee Elementary School, Woodrow Wilson Junior High School, where she held the female lead in the Jr. Class play and spent one year at Tulsa Central High School, before attending and graduating from Ferry Hall Boarding School, in Lake Forest, IL. She matriculated to Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, and graduated from the University of Oklahoma where she served as President of Kappa Alpha Theta and Alpha Epsilon Rho. During World War II she instigated a drive for the selling of over $750,000 of War Bonds which later won her national recognition. Following the war she married Lt. Harvey A. Heller, Jr., a Tulsa Oilman. She devoted her life to her family, church, community and friends. She served as President of the Tulsa Junior League, Tulsa Town Hall, Tulsa Shakespeare Club, Lo-High Investment Club (which she co founded) and of the Auxiliary for Tulsa Summer Musicals. In addition, she served on the Boards of the YWCA, Friends of the Tulsa County Library, Hillcrest Medical Center Foundation, the Children's Medical Center and the Yorktown Condominium. She also served on the Altar Guild of St. John's Episcopal Church for sixteen years. She loved to write poetry and short stories and produced and performed in comedic and dramatic "Two Women Shows" with longtime Tulsan, Isabel Simmons. She delighted audiences with her clever introductions of Tulsa Town Hall speakers Ann Landers, Kitty Carlisle Hart, Olivia de Havilland, Gloria Swanson and Steve Forbes, to name a few. She was also named Theta of the year by the Kappa Alpha Theta Alumna group and was honored at the Junior League of Tulsa, Inc's 90th anniversary gala. One of the highlights of her life was being a Lay Reader at St. John's Episcopal Church and reading at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., on Oklahoma Day. Her memberships in Tulsa organizations include Southern Hills Country Club and The Tulsa Club. She was held in high esteem by her family and many friends for her ever ready laughter, her brilliant mind, her quit wit, her loyalty and her thoughtfulness. Her interests were many and included writing, traveling the world, spending weekends at the family ranch, playing bridge, modeling, and entertaining. She is survived by her two daughters, Ann Heller Butler and Cathy Heller Keating; her son in law, Governor Frank Keating; her grandchildren, Carrie Keating Leonard and her husband Ryan; Kelly Keating Hargett and her husband Dan; Chip Keating and his wife Brittney; Kimberly Butler-Talmon and her husband Jochen; and Brian Butler plus fourteen great grandchildren, Catie, Will, Matthew and Mary Frances Leonard; Frances Hadley, Emma, Chloe and Coleman Harget; Callie and Frank Keating; and Claire, Julian, Henry and Coleman Talmon. In addition she is survived by her step daughters/sons Nancy and Michael Morrison, their daughters, Jennifer McClellan and Mamie Fitzgerald; and Susan and Jim Buck. She also was blessed by three siblings who preceded her in death: Gertrude Herndon Martin, Tom Herndon and Ches Herndon. She is survived by her sister in laws, Jane Herndon and Rose Ann Herndon as well as nieces and nephews, Suzanne Martin Barnes, Villard Martin, Mary Herndon Davis, Carol Herndon Klenda, Julia Herndon Reynolds, Cole Herndon, Mary Jane Herndon Kilgore, Jim Herndon, Anne Herndon Cloninger as well as many beloved great grand nieces and nephews. In January 1988 she married Alanson William Chandler, President and Founder of Chandler Engineering, who preceded her in death in January 1993. The family remains eternally grateful to Glenda Gillam, Lori Grant and the team at Oklahoma Methodist Manor for years of love and devotion. The service will be held at St. John's Episcopal Church, 10:00 A.M., Friday, September 9, 2016 with interment at Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. John's Episcopal Church, the Junior League of Tulsa, Inc. or Tulsa Town Hall. Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233 share memories at www.moorefuneral.com

Frances Herndon Chandler

September 9, 1924 - September 2, 2016