Ben Howard Chaney

Ben passed away Saturday, September 1, 2018. He was 76. A funeral service remembering and honoring the life of Ben Howard Chaney will be held Thursday, September 6, 2018 at 11 AM at Calvary Baptist Church, Okmulgee, Oklahoma with brother Richard Manning officiating. A viewing will be held on Wednesday, September 4, 2018 from 5 PM to 7 PM at Schaudt’s Okmulgee Funeral Service.

Ben was born November 29, 1941 in Muskogee, Oklahoma. He was the son of Dora (Colbert) Chaney and Edgar Chaney.

He was a 1959 graduate from Muskogee Central High School. After graduation he continued his education at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma where he obtained his bachelor’s degree in art education, and then worked on his master’s degree at Oklahoma State University.

Ben first started his career teaching at the school of Tulsa for two years and then became a Media Specialist in Okmulgee for three years. In 1970, the Chaney family opened an office supply/ arts and crafts store in downtown Okmulgee where they later taught a pottery class. The store had many purposes throughout the years. It was also a well-known Christian bookstore. In 1978 the Chaney family relocated to West Palm Beach, Florida where Ben got into the real estate business. He eventually changed his career path and became the director for materials management at a hospital located in Loxahatchee, Florida until 1986 when Ben relocated to Nashville, Tennessee where he took a job with Hospital Corporation of America (HCA).

The Rite Aid pharmacy in Centerville, Tennessee is where Ben met the love of his life, Margaret Louise (Daugherty) Chaney in 1994. The couple finally settled down in Muskogee, Oklahoma in 1998 and began their married life on September 17, 1999.

When coming back to his home land, Ben began working at the Muskogee Creek Nation Office where he was a key role in the implementation of the Department of Transportation. Just recently in March of 2018, Ben accepted a new title as the Secretary of Interior Affairs at Muskogee Creek Nation.

He was a hard worker but always made time for himself and his family. Ben was a talented artist that enjoyed painting and drawing native art. As a Christian man, he taught Sunday school and served as a deacon at the First Baptist Church of Okmulgee in the 1970’s. He became a member at Calvary Baptist Church in Okmulgee when he returned to Oklahoma. Ben and Louise often spent time with their friends as members of the Creek Capital Street Rod Car Club in Okmulgee. Ben and Louise shared a love for restoring antique cars and would travel to many different shows to display them.

Ben almost always had a smile on his face and was full of life. His jolly personality made it hard for people not to love him.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Dora (Colbert) Chaney and Edgar Chaney; son, Christopher “Buck” Chaney and sister, Bonnie Kingins.

He is survived by his loving wife, Margaret Louise Chaney; his first wife Dee (Chaney) Coffman four children, Kevin Chaney and his wife, Tunisia, Gina Jandreau and her husband, Robert, Darlene Stewart and Keith Stewart; thirteen grandchildren, Justin, Mason, Ashten, Dakota, Cheyenne C, Cain, Cody, Shawnee, Cheyenne S, Lakota, Rebecca, Stormy and Shannon and three great-grandchildren, Hunter, Jake and Harlie. He also leaves three sisters, Pat Stevenson, Barbara Wilson and Sue Wiedner; two brothers, Jack Chaney and Ed Chaney and many other family members.

Interment will take place on Saturday, Septemeber 8, 2018 at Calhoun Cemetery, Calhoun, KY.

In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Ben to Calvary Baptist Church, 1327 E 13th St., Okmulgee, OK 74447.

Arrangements are entrusted to Schaudt’s Okmulgee Funeral Service. Family and friends may send memories and condolences to the family, online at www.schaudtfuneralservice.com.