Our Family

In 1998, Chandler Memorial Funeral Home was founded by William and Bonnie Golden with a simple but meaningful vision: to serve the families of Chandler and the surrounding communities with excellence, compassion, and a commitment to personal service through a family-owned and operated funeral home. With more than 40 years of experience serving the people of East Texas in the funeral service profession, Bill Golden, alongside two of his three daughters, built Chandler Memorial on a foundation of faith, family, and service. Together, they developed a funeral home that became a trusted part of the Chandler community and a place where families could receive personalized care during some of life's most difficult moments.

In 2018, after two decades of serving the Chandler community, the Golden family made the decision to retire and pass the torch to the next generation. It was important to them that the family they entrusted with their legacy shared their Christian faith, commitment to excellence, and heart for serving others.

They found that in the Traxson family.

Will Traxson realized his calling to serve others and walk alongside families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives in 1993 while attending college in Coffeyville, Kansas. At the time, Will was working part-time at a small-town funeral home, helping wherever he was needed—from caring for the grounds and washing cars to assisting with visitations. It was during those early days that someone recognized something special in him and told him that his heart, his smile, and his willingness to help others were making a difference. Those words helped Will recognize that serving families was more than just a job—it was his calling. He made the decision to transfer to mortuary school in Dallas and began a career dedicated to helping others. Since then, Will has become licensed in three states and has spent more than 25 years serving families with compassion, dignity, and a genuine desire to help. His journey began with simple acts of service at a small-town funeral home and has grown into a lifelong commitment to being there for families when they need someone they can trust most.

For Will Traxson, serving families is much more than a profession—it is a ministry and a calling. He is blessed with four daughters, Jadeyn, MaKayle, Torryn, and Kensley, who are an important part of his life and his inspiration to serve others. Will believes that God places each of us in certain places and in the lives of others for a reason. Through that belief, he and his team strive to walk alongside families during some of the most difficult moments and important decisions they will ever face. Their goal is to provide compassionate guidance, genuine care, and a steady presence when families need it most. In 2012, the Traxson family moved to Athens and purchased Hannigan Smith Funeral Home. Since then, they have been proud to call Athens home and have embraced the community through their church family at Life Fellowship and through countless hours of volunteer service throughout Henderson County.

The transition to the Traxson family allowed Chandler Memorial Funeral Home to remain true to the values upon which it was founded while beginning a new chapter of family ownership and service. Today, the commitment to caring for families with compassion, integrity, and excellence continues—honoring the Golden family's legacy while looking toward the future.