Chaney was born on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1936, in Clovis, New Mexico, to E.J. Speegle and Ruth Battle Speegle.

Chaney met the love of her life, Bob Gregory, in Waco, Texas, on a blind date set up by mutual friends. They were married on September 6, 1959, and had a wonderful 49 years together.

Chaney, a Baptist preacher’s kid, lived many places in her youth as her dad served the Lord as a pastor and evangelist in Louisiana, Texas, and Colorado. She graduated from Boulder High in Colorado and then from Baylor University in 1959 as an RN. She worked as a nurse in hospitals for many years and later as a school nurse.

Chaney transitioned from being a preacher’s kid to a preacher’s wife when Bob surrendered to the ministry in 1961. After seminary, Bob and Chaney served churches in Cotulla, Robstown, Kingsville, Wolfe City, and Greenvine, Texas, as well as several interim churches throughout the years. She loved the congregations and served them well.

Bob and Chaney loved to travel and took multiple groups to Europe, especially loving Switzerland. In their younger years, travel often involved tent camping while traveling to/from the Southern Baptist Convention, wherever it was held. Chaney made the best breakfast with the Coleman stove; that is all that needs to be said about her cooking.

Chaney’s faith was always evident, not just through attendance at First Baptist Church in Columbus but through her dedication to those in need and her love and support of missions and camps. Her organizational skills, whether requested or not, were strong, and she kept her eye on moving toward the intentional goal of serving and sharing Christ.

Outside the church, Chaney loved to read and was an active member of the DAR and the Garden Club.

Chaney’s family loved her deeply and could always count on her to use her English minor to ensure proper English usage. Although hearing was an issue for her, she could correct you from three rooms away if the proper tense were not used. She put her love of reading and her English minor to good use as she retired as a school librarian in Weimar.

Chaney is survived by her sister, LaJuanda Speegle of Oklahoma City; children Jan Gregory of Manchaca and Jon (Debbie) Gregory of Columbus; grandchildren Jordan (Samantha) Gregory of Ft Smith, AR; Seth (Rachel) Gregory of Leander; and Rebekah (Marcus Jones) Gregory of Miami, FL. Chaney’s great-grandchildren are Sophia Gregory, Owen Gregory, Emerson Gregory, and Magnolia Gregory.

Chaney was preceded in death by her husband, Bobby Lee Gregory, and her parents, E.J. and Ruth Speegle.

Chaney’s Celebration of Life Service will be at 12:00 PM on Friday, August 30, 2024, at First Baptist Church of Columbus, TX, with a reception to follow at the church. A visitation will be held on Thursday, August 29, 2024, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Henneke Funeral Home in Columbus.

Memorials can be made to the FBC Columbus Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 367, Columbus, TX 78934.

Online condolences may be given at www.hennekefuneralhome. com.