Bobbie Chandler
(Roberta Joyce), a 22-year resident of Ajijic, died at her home on May 28 at the age of 83.
Chandler was born in Seattle, Washington on October 11, 1932. She attended the University of Washington and was a partner with her older sister Pat Quigley and their parents in a family art and craft business, first in Seattle and later in Tacoma, Washington, and Portland, Oregon.
Chandler and her sister were pioneers for women entrepreneurs and carved out an exciting, fun, but always challenging, working life.
In the 1980s Chandler had a started a new career in real estate but gave it up for the more interesting option of moving to Saudi Arabia with her first husband. This allowed her to travel to exotic places that broadened her horizons and added to her art collection.
She later returned to Seattle to help her sister with the operation of a professional floral design school, Career Floral. Chandler worked tirelessly to acquire national accreditation for this business so that students could get government funding to attend. After a few years, the business was sold and the sisters retired.
Chandler visited Ajijic with a friend in 1993. She settled there and was soon followed by sister Pat and younger sister Lee Carson.
Chandler loved playing tennis and worked hard to get new courts built in the area. She encouraged young Mexican students to learn the game by paying pros to teach them.
Chandler participated in just about anything that was going on in Ajijic. She helped organize gala dinner dances and won her share of competitions at the Culinary Arts Society of Ajijic (CASA). She joined the Garden Club and then the Garden Guild and taught floral skills to anyone wanting to learn. This eventually led the Garden Guild into putting on a spectacular flower show which has since become a yearly event.
Chandler was honored with the “Woman of the Year” award sponsored by the Chapala municipality. One of her most important contributions was to assist in raising the necessary funds required to build the technological school on the Libramiento bypass.
Chandler was always working on learning Spanish and became a disciplined student of yoga, but much of her time went into learning the game of bridge and eventually earning her life master points.
Chandler finally slowed down after meeting husband Philip Nowell, and together they built a property on the beach.
She leaves her husband, Philip Nowell, her older sister Pat Quigley of lower La Floresta, and her younger sister Lee Carson and her husband Jack of Ajijic. Her extended family also included 22 nieces and nephews, mostly from her four oldest siblings. And, just as important as family were all the dear friends she made at Lakeside.
Chandler’s generosity and enthusiasm for life will be missed by all who knew her.
Neill Nash McKinney
Lakeside resident Neill Nash McKinney, 70, died on May 17.
Born in Dallas, Texas on January 16, 1946, McKinney graduated from Plano High School in 1964, attended the University of Texas in Austin, and received a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Central Arkansas in 1968. He earned professional endorsements as a certified public accountant and as a financial analyst.
An avid outdoorsman, McKinney closed his Conway, Arkansas CPA practice in 1986 to enjoy his dream career as a sporting goods representative. He was blessed to fish and to hunt in some of the most incredible locations on earth. Before retiring in 2005, McKinney was a financial analyst for both Morgan Stanley Dean Witter and Merrill Lynch.
McKinney loved reading, Texas Longhorn football, a fine cigar, sharing a great story, and time with his family and friends. Time with his daughters included convincing them he “used to be an Indian,” teaching them to fish, stopping at every historical marker on every road trip, inspiring a strong work ethic, sending daily emails and sharing his love for the Lord. He was an animal lover, having a variety of pets throughout his life, which included dogs, cats, exotic birds and horses.
Along with his beloved wife of 38 years, Gwen, McKinney also enjoyed bird watching. He was a member of the River Bend Baptist Church in Fulshear, Texas, and, after retiring to Mexico in 2014, the Lake Chapala Baptist Church.
McKinney is survived by his best friend and wife, Gwen McKinney; his former wife, co-parent, and friend, Mary Edwards; his three daughters, Terry Rainey of North Little Rock, Arkansas; Susan (Steve) Owens of Russellville, Arkansas; Lee (Keith) Moore of Crosby, Texas; his two cousins Tom Nash, of San Antonio, Texas; and Cecelia (Jesse) Beck of Edmond, Oklahoma; his seven grandchildren, Adam Rainey, Ryan White (Tori), Brandon Arnold, Hannah Owens, Hunter Owens, Addison Moore, and Madeline Moore; his two great-grandsons, Kaleb Rainey and Brohdi White. He is preceded in death by two grandsons, Tyler Anthony Arnold and Logan Matthew White.
Memorials may be made to the Lake Chapala Bomberos (firefighters). A PayPal account has been created for this purpose in the name of: Lake Chapala Bomberos through C. TUM Lorenzo Antonio Salazar Guerrero, Sub Director, cell number 33-3137-5177, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..