Jeannette Chance

Jeannette Joan (Johnson) Chance, Age 89, of Oak Ridge, Tennessee died on September 2, 2025. She most recently resided at Lone Oak Assisted Living in Eugene, OR before moving to Evergreen Memory Care in Eugene, OR. 

Born in Homeopathic Hospital, Reading, Berks County, PA, she was the daughter of the late George Frank Johnson, who was born in Reading, Berks County, PA and Ida May (Potteiger) Johnson, who was born in Reading, Berks County, PA.

Jeannette attended Mt. Penn High School and was in the graduating class of 1954. She was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, attaining the rank of Corporal and took her basic training at Paris Island, SC. She worked as a Stenographer for the

USMC command staff, serving at the USMC headquarters in Quantico, VA. She was awarded the National Defense Service Medal.

She worked at JC Penny’s in Oak Ridge, TN for 28 years before retiring in 2008. During her retirement years, she enjoyed fostering dogs for the local Shelter Animals Rescue Group, Inc. (SARG). She was baptized into the Radio Church of God in 1963 and remained faithful to those teachings for the rest of her life. 

Surviving are three children: Keith D. Chance, husband of Suzanne G. Chance, Nashville, TN; Kim A. (Chance) Brisby, wife of Jon Brisby, Eugene, OR; and Karl L. Chance, husband of Angie Chance, Oak Ridge, TN; Six surviving grandchildren: Caitlin A. (Chance) Fair, wife of James Fair of Jonesborough, TN; Cara S. (Chance) Ross, wife of Daniel Ross of Nashville, TN; Samuel C. Brisby, husband of Marina N. Brisby, of Eugene, OR; Thomas W. Brisby, husband of Marie T. Brisby, of Eugene, OR; Leah K. (Chance) Weiler, wife of Mathew Weiler, of Knoxville, TN; and Asher C. Chance, of Elkridge, MD; and five surviving great-grandchildren: Austin D. Ross, of Nashville, TN; Eila J. Ross, of Nashville, TN; Owen K. Fair, of Jonesborough, TN; Stella B. Fair, of Jonesborough, TN; and Ezra L. Weiller, of Knoxville, TN. 

She was predeceased by; her brother Markley Allen Johnson in 1975; her sister Ethel Irene (Johnson) Faust in 2017; her sister Peggy Ann (Johnson) Petri in 2023; and her sister, Doris Lois (Johnson) Petri in 2023.

A short graveside service for family and friends will be held on Sunday, October 5 at Anderson Memorial Gardens (Garden of Mount Calvary section), 640 Oliver Springs Hwy, Clinton, TN 37716 at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made online to SARG at: https://shelteranimalsrescue.org.