Joseph "Joe" Chamless' Obituary
Joseph “Joe” Chamless, 78, died December 11, 2017 at home in Astatula, Florida, after a long battle with cancer. Joe was born on February 23, 1938 to Stewart and Elizabeth (Folmar) Chamless in Bessemer, Alabama. Like all good Southern men, he respected his mother, he followed NASCAR and he loved greens. Throughout his lifetime, Joe had a wide variety of jobs, but he was probably most proud of his stint in the Army, his work for Chrysler Corporation at Cape Canaveral and the part he played in building The Villages, where he worked as a construction superintendent for a number of years until he retired in 2000. Joe was first diagnosed with cancer in 2014, but he lived to fish another season, for which his family gives God all glory, honor and praise. Though his cancer returned in 2015, and his life afterward was not how he would have liked it to be, he never lost his natural optimism, sense of humor or appreciation for those around him. Preceded in death by his stepson, George Bowen, Joe is survived by his sister Sara Austin of Cocoa, Florida, and his brother Iva Chamless (Linda) of Rockledge, Florida; his wife Joyce, his stepson Alan Bowen and stepdaughter Mary Katherine Bowen, all of Astatula; his stepdaughter Charlotte “Toby” Bowen of Orlando, Florida; and his daughter and son-in-law Tonya and Curtis Wade of Mount Dora, Florida. A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, December 17, 2017 at 1 pm at Steverson Hamlin & Hilbish in Tavares, Florida, with a reception to follow at East Lake Harris Estates Clubhouse, Astatula. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity, smile at a sad face and give joy to those around you. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared on the tribute wall.
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