William E. Chaney, Jr.

On October 7, 2016, William Edward “Bill” Chaney, Jr. passed away peacefully at his home with wife Joyce and his entire family at his side. Born July 12, 1929 in Washington, DC at Old Columbia Hospital to Willam Edward Chaney, Sr. and Dorothy (Waltmeyer) Chaney, Bill grew up in Southeast Washington, DC and attended Anacostia High School. In 1946, Bill enlisted in the Army where he served for 3 years in Korea. Upon leaving the Army, Bill worked for the Army Corps of Engineers for 33 years at Fort Lesley J. McNair until he retired. Bill was a charter member of Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church in Suitland, Maryland, where he served on the church council and was President of the Congregation in 1983-84. Bill was an avid fisherman spending untold days on the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River as well as surf casting on the Delaware shore and deep sea fishing off the coast of North Carolina. Bill is survived by his wife of 67 years Joyce (Stenberg), sons Tim and Allen, daughters Diana and Debbie, sisters Cathrine Chaney Huntington and Mary Joyce Laverack and brother Robert Chaney, as well as 10 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. Aside from his family, Bill’s biggest passion was Freemasonry receiving many honors, providing service, and holding various office position with dedication, devotion, diligence, discretion and distinction. Although he was a Grand Master and was called “Most Worshipful Brother,” he always said that his highest honor was being raised as a Master Mason and being a “Brother.” Brother Chaney petitioned George C. Whiting Lodge No. 22 and was initiated on January 24, 1952 and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on April 10, 1952. After years of exemplary service, he was installed as Master of the Lodge No. 22 for the 1961 Masonic Year. In an effort to be of service to another lodge requiring assistance, he demitted from George C. Whiting Lodge in 1970 and joined Hiram Lodge No. 10, now Hiram-Takoma Lodge No. 10, where he served as Master in the 1973 Masonic Year. Following the merger of Hiram Lodge and Takoma Lodge into Hiram-Takoma Lodge No, 10, our Brother was again pressed into service as Master of the Lodge No. 10 during the 1990 Masonic Year. He also was a Master of Anacostia Lodge No. 21 as well as Pythagoras Lodge of Research. This outstanding Mason has been active not only in our blue lodges, but in many appendant and concordant Masonic bodies. He was a member of Mount Pleasant Chapter No. 13, Royal Arch Masons of the District of Columbia; Almas Shriners, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Knights of Mecca; Shrine Screwballs; and Capitol Forest No. 104, and Tall Cedars of Lebanon, where he served as the Grand Tall Cedar in 1988. Brother Chaney was a Past Associate Guardian of Bethel No. 41 International Order of Jobs Daughters, Camp Springs, Maryland. He was a member of Unity Chapter No. 112 Order of the Easter Star in Camp Springs, Maryland; St. Simeon Stylites Conclave Red Cross of Constantine in Washington, DC; National Sojourners Washington DC Chapter No. 3; The Masonic Veterans Association; and the College Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis. As a member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, he served as Venerable Master of Kadosh, Albert Pike Consistory and received the Rank and Decoration of a Knight Commander of the Court of Honor (KCCH) in 1987 and was coroneted a 33rd Degree, Inspector General Honorary, in 1993, in recognition of his outstanding service to the Scottish Rite. Beginning in 1977, he served for 19 years as an appointed or elected Grand Lodge officer. He was elected as the Junior Grand Steward for the 1989 Masonic Year. He served his term in the Grand Line with unfailing attention to detail and was elected and installed as the 143 Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge, F.A.A.M of the District of Columbia on Saturday, December 19, 1995 serving the 1996 Masonic Year. Since leaving office as Grand Master in December 1996, he enthusiastically continued to serve the Grand Lodge on many committees and graciously undertaken several assignments for the good of the Craft. In recent years, Brother Chaney received the Distinguished Service Award of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia in 2009 and was honored in 2012 with his 60-year Pin, denoting his 60 years of service and dedication to the craft. On September 25, 2014, Hiram-Takoma Lodge No. 10 was honored to present Brother Chaney as the recipient of the Lodge Fidelity Medal for his active and continued service to the craft. Masonic Milestones:Born: July 12, 1929Initiation: January 24, 1952Passing: March 13, 1952Raising: April 10, 1952Passed to the Celestial Lodge above: October 7, 2016 A celebration of Bill’s life will be held between 2-4 PM on Saturday October 15, 2016 at Beall’s Funeral Home, 6512 N. W. Crain Hwy (Rt. 3 South) Bowie, MD. 2:00 PM Gathering2:30 PM Funeral Ceremonies beginning with the Masonic Services followed by the ReligiousServices. All Masons are asked to be prepared by 2:15PM. Because of Bill’s love for the Shriners’ Hospitals for Children, in lieu of flowers, please consider contributions “In memory of William E. Chaney, Jr.” to: The Almas Transportation FundC/O Almas Temple1315 K St NW Washington, DC 20005