April 18, 1942 – October 14, 2020

On Oct. 14, 2020, our husband, brother, father, uncle, grandfather, counselor and friend Lorenzo Lee Chaffee passed into the arms of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Lon was born in Hinckley, Minnesota, on April 18, 1942, to Vernon and Hilma Chaffee. In 1949, the family moved to Alaska where Lon embarked on many adventures, of which commercial logging and halibut fishing, hunting, exploring and surviving are just a few. During that time, Lon taught himself to play the guitar and began entertaining friends and family. He found so much joy playing music and singing that he continued entertaining for the rest of his years.

In 1967, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Lon met and married his forever love, Sandra. Lon and Sandy were blessed with three children, 11 grandchildren, and eventually five great-grandchildren. Lon’s devotion to his family was second only to his devotion to Christ.

In 1990, Lon and Sandy made their final move, settling in Moses Lake and becoming members of Emmanuel Baptist Church. After retiring, Lon was able to explore and develop his love of painting. Many Moses Lake residents and visitors will remember Lon painting at the farmers market and his prize-winning exhibits at the Grant County Fair.

Lon was not only a blessing to his family, but to his community as well. He was a deacon at the church and participated in outreach programs throughout the county. Lon was a regular volunteer at Serve Moses Lake and an all-around good citizen. To his family he was more than a blessing; he was our foundation, preacher, storyteller, counselor, entertainer, helper, teacher and carpenter. Words cannot express the depth of our grief, yet we are consoled to know he is in a better place.

Lon is survived by his wife of 53 years Sandra Chaffee, son and daughter-in-law Alvin and Angie Chaffee, daughter and son-in-law Tammi and Greg Kassman, three brothers and four sisters, 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life service will be held at Emmanuel Baptist Church on Oct. 31 at 1 p.m.