Jane Squires Rankin Chandler

Jane, Mom, Mimi, Janie, Favorite Aunt Jane, Pal

Jane was a Georgia girl in every sense of the word. Born in Atlanta on October 16, 1950 to her parents Bob (“Pappy”) and Caroline (“Carrie”) Rankin, she was the first of four children and sibling to her sister Gayle (“Fritz”) and brothers John Robert (“Robby”) and Claude (“Bo”). Jane and her siblings inherited a strong sense of humor and love for storytelling from a loving extended family of aunts, uncles, parents, and grandparents.

Jane attended Briarcliff High School near Decatur and graduated from Sandy Springs High School. She attended Converse College and Georgia State, graduating with a BA in education in 1972. Years later, while working and raising the girls Jane went back to school to get her Masters Degree in Education from West Georgia University.

On May 11, 1974, Jane married John Robert Chandler at Druid Hills Presbyterian Church in Atlanta. Born in Corpus Christi, Texas to Lieutenant Cmdr. James Chandler and Marie Chandler, John was a Navy brat. Once he and Jane met, Georgia became their forever home.

Jane began her professional career with the State of Georgia’s Health & Human Services Dept. followed by a teaching post at Antioch Elementary School. For several years, she set aside her chalk and red pens to raise three amazing daughters: Anne Marie, Catherine, and Lauren. In 1989, Jane returned to teaching at Fair Oaks Elementary in Cobb County and was there until 2011, working alongside some of her best, lifelong friends.

Jane and John raised their family near Walton High School in the East Cobb neighborhood of Independence Square. In 2003, they moved to Roswell, Georgia to be near her aging parents. Their move to Crabapple Pointe introduced them to a new group of friends whom, like many others, became extended family.

Family, in all its iterations and sizes, was always Jane’s top priority. Among aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, etc., she preferred the term “in-love” to “in-law.” In 1976, a family tradition was born when Jane’s parents purchased a home on Lake Burton. The beloved house became the family gathering place where many a wild, wonderful, hilarious, raucous, magical time was had by family and friends who had the good fortune to find themselves there. Jane’s father, “Pappy” ended every prayer or special moment of silence with the words “I like it,” and it became a family mantra, uttered in joyful unison at Lake Burton, an exclamation of satisfaction and gratitude for the blessing of family.

Jane was known for and will always be remembered as one of the kindest, most thoughtful and soft-spoken people you could ever meet. Her soft voice and docile nature were the perfect foil for her quick wit. She is already dearly missed by family, friends, and her dog Mitzi.

Jane is survived by John, her loving husband of 50 years; their daughters Anne Marie, her wife Lindsay Rox, and children Gibson and Elle, Catherine Gabos, her husband Eddie, and their daughter Riley, and Lauren Crary, her husband Mark, and their sons John and Bowen; her brothers and their families: Robby and Susie Rankin, their children and spouses: Bo & Becky Rankin, Brett & Krissy Hennessy, and John & Jill Gennett. Bo & Pie Rankin and their children and spouses: Claude and Mary Elizabeth Rankin, Paul & Emily Schofield.
Jane and her family recently lost her sister, Gayle. We know she would like for us to observe a special moment for her husband, Harold Meyer, and their children and spouses: Caroline & Erik Neikirk and David & Leah Meyer. Her brother in-love T. Michael Chandler, Jeff Chandler and BFF Richard Kincaid, Jimmy & Debbie Chandler and their children and spouses; Steven & Nikki Chandler, Brian & Megan Chandler, Joe & Katie Williams and their children and spouses: Brad & Amy Klusener, Chad & Anusha Williams. And her cousins far and wide.

A memorial service will be held on Sat., Nov. 23 at 2 pm at Roswell Presbyterian Church 755 Mimosa Blvd, Roswell, GA 30075. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.