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Obituary: Jeffery Alan Chamberlain

Jeffery Alan Chamberlain

Jeffery Alan Chamberlain was born to Ted and Darlene Chamberlain on January 6, 1961 in Linton, Indiana. He spent his childhood in Indiana with his parents and his two sisters, Mary and Amber. His father moved the family to Craig when Jeff was in high school to go to work at Trapper mine and later Colowyo Coal mine.

Jeff was seventeen the evening that he and a friend picked up a couple girls from the movie theater that Jeff had never met before. One of those girls was Sandy Willems, a deep and enduring love began to grow from that chance encounter that evening in 1978. While dating Sandy, Jeff worked in town at a couple local shops until his love of turning wrenches led him to a job at Colowyo Coal in April of 1980. He started in the wash bay washing equipment. Through the thirty-nine years he worked there he worked his way up to maintenance supervisor. He also drove the ambulance many years for the mine. Jeff was very proud of his time at Colowyo, where he built many strong bonds with his co-workers on respect that went beyond the time clock and guard shack. Later that year, Jeff made the best decision of his life when he married Sandy on July 5th, 1980. They spent the rest of his days on this earth together, cherishing each other in nearly thirty-nine years of marriage. Together they built a beautiful life, centered on devotion to each other, endless love, and laughter. 

Jeff and Sandy purchased their first home in 1981. In that home they were blessed with three sons; Heath Alan (1982), Drew Jarrod (1985), and Brent David (1986). Raising those boys, shaping them into men of strong character is the biggest accomplishment of Jeff’s life. They grew to be his very best of friends in adulthood and they will continue to endeavor to live up to the man that he was. Jeff enjoyed hunting, fishing, snow machining, and camping with his family and friends. Jeff also enjoyed the time he spent racing cars at Hayden Speedway from 1983-1991. His love of racing continued throughout his life with many family vacations being planned with races along the travel routes.

In November of 1996, Jeff and Sandy moved their family out of town. They needed more room, a place with a shop so that he could work on things and continue to teach his boys mechanics. In a bigger house there was room for his growing family, a place where noise complaints were not an issue, and room for boys to be boys. Their shared love for all things motorized led all three sons to work as mechanics at Colowyo. Jeff continued throughout his life to improve upon this home with Sandy, always working hard to take care of his home and family. In November 2004 Jeff got his FFL license and started his own business; JC Guns and Ammo that he ran in addition to working at Colowyo.

He was the proud Papa to five beautiful grandchildren that he adored. They were everything to him and they all knew it. Building traditions with them was very important to him. He endeavored to build special bonds with each of them. Jeff was aware that little things matter, like having them out for sleepovers, baking Christmas cookies with them, taking them fishing, building things for them, to going all out decorating his house at Christmas for them. Papa also enjoyed playing checkers with his oldest granddaughter Melanie; he always seemed to lose to her. Jeff always put a lot of effort into family gatherings and camping trips. We never doubted his love for all of us, he showed it every day. Jeff and Sandy loved traveling together and had plans to travel much more. He was very proud of his Jeep and loved going on adventures in it, rock crawling being his favorite. Jeff was a huge Patriots fan and loved reading outlaw/history books. He was a man of strong character, convictions, with a great sense of humor. If you needed help with anything or just to talk he was always there for all of us.

Jeff passed away on April 25th, 2019 at St Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction after a fierce fight waged against lung cancer. He was surrounded by his family. We grieve for him but also celebrate the man that he was and the life that he built with Sandy and his boys. He is survived by his wife Sandy Chamberlain and his three sons; Heath (Devon) Chamberlain, Drew (Christen Scheele) Chamberlain, and Brent (Deidra) Chamberlain. Also he leaves behind five wonderful grandchildren (Melanie, Claire, Drayden, Addyson, and Callee Chamberlain); as well as his mother Darlene Chamberlain and sister Mary (Marvin) Moon. His father Ted Chamberlain and his sister Amber Wilkinson await him in heaven.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Jeff Chamberlain Memorial Fund for Jeff’s grandchildren’s college education in care of Grant Mortuary.


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