10. Roy Elmer Chatfield & Josephine Elizabeth Chambers

4. Roy Elmer Chatfield

Roy stayed home and took care of his mother—or maybe it was the other way around. Nellie Chatfield made her daily mile and-a-half walk to St. John’s 7:30 AM mass, and then to work at the Diamond Match Plant. When Roy got a car, he drove her in his black four-door Hudson Terraplane sedan. Cruising up in front, hopping from the car, opening her door, offering her his arm, and escorting her up the thirteen red brick steps through the two arched front doors and down the long aisle past the imposing stained glass windows of St. John the Baptist Church, he delivered his mother to her front pew, next to the right hand of God.

Letter from J.J. Bradley, Sales and Service to Roy Chatfield:

Dear Mr. Chatfield: 11/12/43

We would greatly appreciate it if you would send in the balance of $60.00 on the Terraplane job. We lost so much money on the job as is and would like to get this if possible.

Thanks kindly;

Yours very truly;

J. J. Bradley By, (signed) Mrs. J.J. Bradley

Roy was like a piece of white paper; when people came around he blended into the wall and disappeared into the woodwork. Most of the family thought him a mama’s boy—also spoiled, selfish, and bratty. The men’s notion of him was small; behind his back they referred to him as tight (he was a great saver of money) and called him a dandy. He was child-like and childish, particularly with his nieces and nephews. He’d pinch or push them when Grandma wasn’t looking, then say snide things to them when her back was turned. An odd duck, with something not quite right, Grandma always protected and coddled him. She also enjoyed his company. Teasing her he tipped her back in her slide rocker and she’d get a kick out of it and tell him, “Oh Roy, cut it out”. The only other chair in the green-painted wainscoted and ivy wallpapered room was his. He had nervous fits and so he wouldn’t swallow his tongue Grandma slid a piece of wood under it until his seizure was over. Other times when he was out partying or off with friends and could tell when a fit was coming on he’d lock himself in the closet until the spell was over then come out from behind the closed door and resume the fun.

One time, George Day’s two young boys were visiting at Grandma’s: Bob was seven. Junior, who was only about three, was throwing sticks at the white-feathered Leghorns in the chicken yard and accidentally broke one of the hen’s wings. The boys felt bad and Roy came to the rescue. He grabbed the hen by its neck, gave it a couple of whirls, and snapped the head off. The two young brothers had never witnessed something so disturbing but concealed their horror. As they got older, they found out worse things happened in life.

Roy was shy around everyone except his sweetheart, Jo Chambers. Jo worked with his sisters at Diamond Match and was like family. She whistled like a songbird, her talent showcased on the local radio station. She was always around, her laughter announcing her presence, her drollness sharpening the day, her angular body a head taller than most of the Chatfield’s. 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. Jo was lively, gracious, had a great personality, and seemed years ahead of her time. Everyone wondered what she saw in Roy.

He proposed to Jo when he was eighteen and she nineteen, but he’d promised his mother 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 Grandma until Nellie’s 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. The family home was supposed to pass on to the Chatfield heirs after Jo passed on, but no will was to be found. Jo’s sister inherited the house when Jo died in 1982 and she sold it; the grandchildren driving up to get pictures and keepsakes, the family furniture peddled at a garage sale, the attic possessions discarded.

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.

In 1944 Roy owned a piece of property in Bolinas (lot 196 & 197) Bolinas Union, map of Bolinas Beach, Marin County), probably left to him by his father who had in 1942. Grandpa was living by himself in Bolinas in 1930 building a house.

Uncle Roy died in 1978 and is buried in the Chico Cemetery.

Obituary: R.E. Chatfield Rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. Thursday in the chapel of the Bruise Funeral Home for Roy Elmer Chatfield, 77, of 1542 Boucher Street. Chatfield died Tuesday at a local hospital. Born March 20, 1901 in Rifle, Colo., to Charles H. and Nellie Chatfield, he received his early education in Los Molinos. He came to Chico in 1915 where he was employed by Union Ice Company for 15 years, then later by Grey Eagle Co. for approximately 10 years. Chatfield was a 50-year member of Modern Woodmen of America and St. John the Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife, Josephine of Chico, two brothers, Charles of Paradise and Arden of Chico, and three sisters, Verda Day of Chico, Ina Fouch of Yuba City and Nellie McElhiney of Martinez.

Jo died in 1982.

Jan 29, 1982: Chico Enterprise Record, Chico, Butte County, 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.