Stewart Jordan Chandler, 50
Stewart (“Stu”) Jordan Chandler, of Shawnee, Okla., died on Feb. 13 at the age of 50.
He was born on March 24, 1969, in Iowa City, Iowa, to Don and Jeanette (Chandler) Jordan. He was a recent transplant to Shawnee, from what he liked to refer to as the “Island of Misfit Toys,” better known as Hull. 
Any visitor to Shawnee Presbyterian Church has probably wondered about that remarkably resounding, gravelly voice that sang out, faithfully, from the third row. A voice with volume and confidence, with skill and gravity – the voice of Stewart Chandler. Like his voice, Stu was a remarkable and loved man.
He was what some might call a “man’s man,” with his construction background and his tendency to curse like a sailor. But everyone he met was won over by his warm smile, his humor, and his booming and infectious laugh. He fit in with construction workers at a Patriots tailgate event as easily as with a group of university professors. He loved people, and they knew it.
Anyone who knew Stu for any period of time had the pleasure of visiting his home and sampling BBQ from his smoker. Church brunches were often graced with a rack of ribs or pulled pork, which he had masterfully cooked just for the occasion. His Facebook feed was filled with his many culinary creations, and his closest friends will undoubtedly lose a few pounds in his absence. One of his greatest pleasures was watching people enjoy his cooking.
Stu worked many jobs over his lifetime, including paperboy, truck stop employee, construction worker, pizza chef, and security guard until he finally found his calling as a safety professional. He worked as a certified safety professional for Jay Cashman and Associates in Boston for 22 years. 
Stu was proud of his job with Cashman and the opportunities it brought him. He always had a funny story to tell about happenings on the job. He was also well known in the industry for his work with OSHA, educating workers about job safety. He liked to refer to himself as “Safety Stu.” 
He received his bachelor’s degree in industrial hygiene from the University of Findlay in Ohio with the class of 1995. 
In everything Stu did, he was always “all in.” Whether it was work, athletics (as college wrestler and football player), chef, musician (bass guitar and vocals), sports fan (Go Sox! Go Pats!), or his friends, Stu was dedicated and an inspiration to others. The love and care he put into cooking or singing or even his job made others better. When he sang, he made you want to sing louder. When he laughed, he made you want to laugh. And when he delighted in cooking, he made you delight in cooking, too. He gave you a love for the good things he loved, and that is no small gift. It is a gift that we will all miss.
Stu’s life and his love affected the lives of many people. He would make you laugh, he would offend you, he would encourage you, and he would make you cry. Sometimes all in the same encounter. One thing he offered freely was his love. And you felt that when you were with him. 
Stu will not be forgotten. We are left with things he taught us to love and the hope that now, without pain or ailment or hindrance, Stu is present with the source of all the good things he ever loved, Christ Jesus.
A memorial service will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 22, at Shawnee Presbyterian Church with Rev, Matt Wiley officiating, under the direction of Cooper Funeral Home of Tecumseh, Okla. 
The family has designated the National Kidney Foundation, Finance Department, 30 East 33rd St., New York, NY 10016, or the Shawnee Presbyterian Church, 214 W. Farrall St., Shawnee, OK 74801, as appropriate for memorials.
To share memories, or to sign the guest book online, go to www.cooperfuneral.com.