Roger Alan Chanley, Jr.
(November 1, 1965 - September 26, 2015)

Roger Alan Chanley, Jr., age 49 of Leavenworth, passed away on September 26, 2015, at University of Louisville Hospital, in Louisville, Kentucky. Alan was born to Roger Chanley, Sr. and Esther Collins Chanley on November 1, 1965, at Harrison County Hospital in Corydon, Indiana. He was preceded in death by his father Roger Chanley, Sr., maternal grandparents Omer Collins, Sr. and Winnie Rainwater Collins, and paternal grandparents Carl Chanley and E.K. Brown Chanley.

The unbearable loss of Alan will be shared by his surviving family members - mother Esther Collins Chanley, brother Tim Chanley (wife Jennifer), sister Bethany Chanley, niece Emma Chanley, stepsons Matthew Amesbury (wife Vivian), Nathan Amesbury (companion Wendy), Jason Amesbury, Sr., and step grandson Jason Amesbury, Jr., as well as five aunts, four uncles, eight cousins, five cats, two roosters, and too many friends and hunting buddies to name.

Alan graduated from Crawford County Jr.-Sr. High School in the Class of 1984. He attended Crawford Consolidated United Methodist Church in Leavenworth throughout childhood and learned many valuable life lessons from his church family, especially Bro. Bill Askren and Bro. Charlie Hiatt. He likewise gained countless life skills through his involvement in Cub Scouts, Webelos, and Boy Scouts. A skilled handyman and jack-of-all trades, Alan worked as a carpenter and contractor for several years. At the time of his passing, he was the head of maintenance at Old Stone Lodge and Grill.

Some people have a shelf with books; Alan had shelves of books. He was a voracious reader who loved Westerns, especially those by Louis L'Amour and Zane Grey. These books greatly influenced his outlook on life and helped him develop his personal code of honor. He believed a man should always do what he can to help those in need. In times of crisis, Alan was the first to leap into action. Many times, he jumped in his truck with his chainsaw after a storm to clear trees from the roads. He pulled several people out of the ditch on Low Gap when ice caused them to slide off. He stopped to help people put their cows back in the pen when they got loose (and got kicked in the shin by a calf for his trouble!). Alan's final act of generosity was to donate bones and tissue through the Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates (KODA) to benefit patients suffering from dire illnesses like cancer.

Deer-hunting was one of Alan's passions in life. If you had asked what his favorite holiday was, he surely would have answered Opening Day of deer season. He loved everything about it - the preparation of deer camp, hiking through the woods in the chill of the morning, the bond of the brotherhood of hunters, and, of course, the venison. A renowned raconteur, Alan tended to embellish the tales of his exploits. However, he did once kill two bucks with one shot, a fact confirmed by a number of witnesses.


The tragedy of Alan's death has left an enormous void in the lives of his family, friends, and random strangers he has helped along the way. Alan may not have had much money, but he was wealthier than he ever knew. All of us gathered here to celebrate and honor his life should be inspired by his selfless nature to be kinder to one another, to help those in need, and to always tell our loved ones how much we care.


Services will be held Wednesday, September 30, 2015, at Dillman01/1965-Green Funeral Home in Marengo, Indiana, at 1:00 pm., preceded by visitation from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Randy Coleman will be the minister. Alan's remains will be cremated. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Dillman-Green Funeral Home in Alan's name to help offset expenses.