Sixteenth Generation

8318. Roy Elmer Chatfield was born on 20 March 1901 in Rifle, Garfield Co., Colorado, USA. He appeared in the census in 1910 in Sanders School District, Rosebud Co., Montana, USA. He appeared in the census in 1920 in Chico, Butte Co., California, USA. Roy appeared in the census in 1930 in Chico, Butte Co., California, USA. He appeared in the census in 1940 in Chico, Butte Co., California, USA. He died Heart failure on 11 July 1978 at the age of 77 in Chico, Butte Co., California, USA. Roy was buried on 14 July 1978 in Chico Cmtry., Chico, Butte Co., California, USA. Occupation: Diamond Match/mill worker, Chico Ice & Cold Storage/driver, Grey Eagle Lumber.

Headstones, Hearsay and a Little History:

Roy was shy around everyone except his sweetheart, Jo Chambers. Jo worked with his sisters at Diamond Match and was like family. Roy and Jo were best of friends, more like brother and sister. On Saturday nights they drove to Paradise to dance to the Charleston, Shag, and Swing to the Big Bands.

He proposed to Jo when he was eighteen and she nineteen, but he'd promised his mother Nellie he would stay home and not marry until she died. In return, Nellie promised Roy she'd leave him the house for as long as he lived. Jo had also promised her mother she wouldn't marry until her mother died, and although her mother had passed away some years before, Jo understood Roy's promise. He lived with Nellie until her death in 1956, respectfully waiting six months to marry his beloved. Roy was 55 and Jo, 56. They spent the next twenty-three years of married life in the Boucher Street house until Roy, at the age of 77, died of heart failure. He left the shingle and clapboard Chatfield house to his beloved.

Roy Elmer Chatfield and Josephine Elizabeth "Jo" Chambers were married on 1 August 1956 in Reno, Washoe Co., Nevada, USA. Chico Couple Marry in Reno Rites: A courtship of 38 years ended Wednesday as Roy Chatfield, 1543 Boucher Avenue, took as his bride Josephine Chambers of Shasta Way. The Chicoans were married at 9:30 a.m. in St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church by Fr. John O’Connor. For the occasion the bride chose a pink street length dress, a white carnation corsage and white accessories. Accompanying the couple to Reno was his sister, Mrs. Verda Day. Mrs. Chatfield is an inspector at Diamond Match Co. Both grew up in Chico and have lived their adult lives here. They are at home to their friends on Boucher Street.
Josephine Elizabeth "Jo" Chambers, daughter of John J Chambers and Caroline Elizabeth Benjamin, was born on 8 February 1900 in Cherokee, Butte Co., California, USA. She died Heart ailment in January 1982 at the age of 81 in Chico, Butte Co., California, USA. She was buried on 30 January 1982 in Glen Oaks Memorial Park, Chico, Butte Co., California, USA. 4th of 7 children
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Buried in the Garden of Holy Cross
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[Obituary] Jan 29, 1982: Chico Enterprise Record, Chico, Butte Co., California:
Josephine Chatfield

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Brusie Funeral Home for Josephine Elizabeth Chatfield, 81, who died Thursday in her Chico home.

Mrs. Chatfield was born Feb 8, 1900, to John and Carolyn Benjamine Chambers in Cherokee. She was educated in Chico and employed at the Diamond Match Co. for 42 years as an inspector in the match division. She retired 15 years ago. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church.

She married Roy Chatfield in 1955. He died in 1978. Survivors include a sister, Vera Northrup of Chico; a brother, Ray Chambers of Chico; several nephews and one niece.

The Reverend Leonard Brown of Chico will officiate the services. Casketbearers will be Elkay Northrup, John Chambers, Dick Chambers, Tom Chambers and Bob West. Honorary bearers will be Jack Chambers, Don Chambers and Dick Swett. Burial will be in Glen Oaks Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Those who may wish may contribute to the American Heat Association in care of the funeral home.
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Occupation: Inspector in match division at Diamond Match Company.
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Note: As they promised their respective mothers they would not marry until their deaths, Roy and Jo both remained home during 38-year courtship, caring for their mothers throughout their mother's lives.