Teddy Chandler, 84, died peacefully in his home after a short illness with lung cancer.

Teddy was born in 1940 in Memphis Tennessee to parents Ramelle and Teddy Chandler, Jr. When Teddy was eight years old, his mother married Tom Cortese, who would become father to Teddy for his entire life. Tom and Ramelle provided Teddy with everything a boy or son would want and more.

Teddy graduated from Christian Brothers High School in 1958 and went on to attend Christian Brothers University to study engineering.

In 1962, Teddy served his country by joining the Army National Guard and serving for six years. During this time, he met a lady named Janice, who had three young children of her own. The two fell in love and Teddy married them ALL in 1965. A few years after getting married, Janice & Teddy had Stefanie, who was spoiled not only by her Daddy, but the whole family.

Teddy is survived by his three daughters: Stefanie Sullinger,Tere Murdock, and Cindy Greer. He has 10 grandchildren and great grandchildren as well.

Teddy is preceded in death by his wife of 35 years, Janice Chandler, his sister Ramelle Flournoy, his parents, Tom and Ramelle Cortese, and his son Donald Martin.

Teddy was always a talented athlete, playing sports throughout school and then into his adult life. He was a star second baseman in the Memphis Men's Fastpitch softball league and once he retired playing; he coached. A gung ho group of young men approached Teddy in about 1977, asking him to coach them in softball. He said yes, and in the next 8 to 10 years, he took this team of young men, his team, the Memphis Royals, to not one, but two national men's AA Fastpitch softball tournaments. One was in Fargo, North Dakota and the other in Redding, California.

Teddy was a devout Catholic and attended St. Louis Catholic Church in Memphis for the last 15+ years. He was also always a faithful and devoted supporter of the Church family, and Saint Jude as well.

In his full retirement years, Teddy was an avid golfer and was a member at Irene Golf and Country Club where he made many friends and reunited with some of his softball player friends as well. Teddy won tournaments and even has a golf shot memorialized in his name. It is a sand trap shot called an "Teddy Chandler". It is said that you can hear the reference by announcers over the loudspeakers at some golf tournaments around the area nowadays.

Teddy spent many years in the family dry cleaning business with his father. They partnered in running Cortese Brothers Cleaners, and Buntyn Laundry on Summer Avenue and Semmes, respectively.

Teddy was an avid bass fisherman in his twenties,  a great bowler, then duck hunter, ball player, golfer,  and he could grill the best rare steak you ever ate. He was definitely a man of many talents.

When Teddy was diagnosed with terminal cancer, he said all he wanted was to be able to go home and watch TV in his recliner. He thought it would be perfect if Stefanie could move in and take care of him.

And so it was. In the end days, Stefanie went in his bedroom & told him every day in a loving whisper in his ear, "you're home, you're safe, and I am taking care of you. You got everything you wanted."