Donald Lynn

Chance

Donald Lynn Chance was born October 31,1956 and died March 13,2023 in Wichita Falls.

A memorial service for Don will be on Saturday, April 1st, at 11 a.m. at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, 880 Huntington Lane. Lunch will be served afterwards.

Don was born in Moncks Corner, South Carolina on ancestral lands to Reverend Monroe Chance and his wife Nellie Frances Wood. Don and his brothers, Dan and Joe, accompanied their parents on their adventures all over the country as their father spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.The Chances traveled from Alabama to Montana, Michigan to New Mexico, Colorado to Nevada, and Arizona to Texas on Reverend Chance's assignments with the Church.

He is survived by his wife, Sharon Leah Galligar Chance, they were married on November 20, 1982in Las Vegas, Nevada;

Sons -
Coleman Donald Charles Monroe Chance and wife Maggie of Vancouver Washington.
Clayton Galligar Chance and wife Ashley of Wichita Falls Texas.
Calen Murphy Chance and wife Echo of Wichita Falls Texas.
Cassidy Cheyenne Joseph Daniel Chance of Wichita Falls Texas.

Grandsons -
Oliver Bonham Chance
Avett Bowie Chance
Father - Reverend Monroe Chance of Centreville Alabama.

Brothers -
Daniel Chance and wife Chaime of Centreville Alabama.
Joseph Chance and wife Susan of Ormond Beach Florida.

Nephews -
Brian Chance
Andrew Chance
Tyler Chance

And many aunts, uncles and cousins, plus many, many close friends who are just as much family as you can get.

Don discovered his love of music early in life. As a pastor's kid, he was expected to learn an instrument to help with the services. Little did anyone realize that Don would make music his lifelong career. He received a bass guitar for high school graduation, which led to Don auditioning for rising country music star Jessi Colter. After securing the position, Don impressed Jessi's husband, Waylon Jennings, who told him to play as many different instruments as possible - "it will make you valuable, kid."

Already proficient at piano and guitars (six-string, twelve-string, and bass) at an early age, Don majored in woodwinds at Mesa College's renowned jazz program and became a saxophone whiz. It was also during this time that Don added four and five string banjo to his repertoire, mastering the instrument in a matter of weeks. Over the years, Don would number 60+ instruments to his list of accomplishments. They included piano and keyboards, guitars, mandolin, banjos, fiddle, dulcimer, steel guitar, saxophone, clarinet, Irish harp, Dobro, drums, and more. And, at the age of 62, Don took up the flute, becoming a "full-fledged flooter!"

Don's music career found him playing in road bands that traveled the country, as well as house band positions. He played with the 50s band The Cavaliers and the rock band Night Flight. He was the bandleader for Bill Mack and piano player for Kenny Brewer and the Volcanoes. One of his proudest moments was becoming an honorary "Tucker Boy" when he played with The Marshall Tucker Band. He was also a well regarded session musician.

Don's musical journey eventually found him accepting a position in Wichita Falls, Texas with the Perry Gipson and The Electric Cowboy Band, the house band at a popular night club, The Stardust. When he arrived in the Fall of 1979, Don often said he had found his new hometown in Wichita Falls. During his Stardust days, Don played with country music legends, such as Hank Williams Jr, Gene Watson, Merle Haggard, Moe Bandy and more. He also became friends with the music community of North Texas.

It was also during those Stardust days that Don's life took another turn when he was introduced to the woman who would become the love of his life, Sharon Galligar. Together, Don and Sharon traveled with his music taking them all over the Southwest, Colorado and Texas. They were married on November 20, 1982 in Las Vegas Nevada. They had a great time, with Sharon eventually joining Don in singing and playing percussion.

Don and Sharon were blessed with four beautiful sons - Coleman, Clayton, Calen and Cassidy - who would travel sling with their parents on their adventures. The boys have all grown to become great young men who made their father so proud. Don always said he loved being the dad of boys! Soon amazing daughters-in-law joined the Chance clan - Maggie, Echo and Ashley. And to top it all off, two brilliant, handsome and funny grandsons joined the fun – Oliver Bonham Chance and Avett Bowie Chance. The life of a grandpa was truly a joyous gig for Don. Don and Sharon recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary with a renewal of their vows.

In addition to his music career, Don had many other accomplishments. He worked in movies, television and commercials; he was a big and tall model, and he learned to fly.

Don was always fascinated by words. He wrote songs, short stories and a dozen full-length novels, with his highly proclaimed novel, "Henry 401," receiving much praise from readers and critics.

Don also used his love of words as a music journalist, covering the country music scene for the Wichita Falls Times Record News for 20 years. He interviewed stars such as Willie Nelson, Ray Price, Hank Williams Jr, Charlie Daniels and Doug Gray of Marshall Tucker Band, to name just a few. Don also wrote for the Fort Worth Star Telegram, covering Northwest Tarrant county, as well as the popular website, Allmusic.com.

Don also found joy in writing and recording music, ranging from country to blues, from bluegrass to Irish ditties, and uplifting gospel music, creating 13 albums in all.

Their love of gospel music would lead Don and Sharon to the little country church,

Pleasant Valley Baptist Church. They truly found their church home and family there in that church community. Don served as music director for almost nine years. In addition to organizing music for weekly services, Don produced several gospel music festivals and singings at the church, as well as teaching weekly music classes every Tuesday night. He patiently instructed his students in whatever instrument they wanted to learn. His pride and joy was his "Mandolin Army." It is a sight to see, a group of ten to fifteen people playing mandolin at the same time, filling the air with good, old fashioned gospel music!

Don also found a renewal of his Christian faith during his time at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church. He felt honored to share his God-given talent with his church family, and many others over the years. He was a man of private, but strong faith, and in the last days of struggling with congestive heart failure, he said many times he was confident in the knowledge of who he was, who his Savior was, and where he was going. Some of his last words were "let's get this show on the road!"

There is a hole in the world, a Don Chance-shaped hole, that will be impossible to fill. He will be missed by so many people, but most of all, his family. He was their rock.

A memorial service for Don will be on Saturday, April 1st, at 11 a.m. at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, 880 Huntington Lane . Lunch will be served afterwards. If you played music with Don, or was a student of his, bring your instruments! Let's make a joyful noise for Don. And if you have a favorite memory of Don, his family would love to hear them.