"Iam very sorry for your loss. I did not know Grace personally, however, i played agenst her for tounrement team. Grace, if you can see this, i tip my hat too you for fighting as hard as you could! Never forgoten #22 "
In loving memory of
Grace Chance
December 22, 1997 - January 12, 2012
Services for Grace will be Monday, January 16, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at the New Hope Assembly of God Church 6800 Townsend Ave, Urbandale. Interment will be at the Chapel Hill Gardens Cemetery, Merle Hay Road. Family will receive friends Sunday from 1:30 until 4:30 p.m. at the New Hope Assembly of God Church.
In Lieu of Flowers memorials may be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
Grace Mae Chance was born December 22, 1997 in Grinnell,Iowa to Jay and Shelly (Plumb) Chance. She attended Olmsted Elementary and wasan 8th grader at Urbandale Middle School.
Grace loved school, not only her friends and activities, butshe loved to learn. The ocean, sharks,dolphins, and all things related interested her and she had hopes of being amarine biologist. Grace helped otherssince she was little, always taking people under her wing in their times ofneed. She had a good sense of right and wrong, and would take a stand for whatshe believed. She was a softball playerfor the J-Hawks, played soccer, loved swimming, and wanted to be on thefootball team. Grace loved music. She taught herself to play the piano,saxophone, was active in band, and earned a spot on the school swingchoir.
Grace liked to do everything and anything. She enjoyedanimals and volunteered at the animal shelter with her Mom. Grace and her Dadwere working on a Mustang for her first car. When she told her friends, theydidn't believe she was doing this, so after school there were a group of boysoutside seeing the proof. Grace loved to be with her grandparents and enjoyedthe time spent with them working outside in the garden. She loved dill pickles, red skittles, andwas 99.9% vegetarian, but she would eat hotdogs.
Grace inspired many people with her positive outlook onlife. Grace was wise beyond her age and taught all of us so much. Her familyand friends will remember her quick wit, sense of humor, kind heart, andcontagious smile. She had many friends and loved to help everyone, but her bestfriend was her sister, Sarah.
Grace will be missed by her parents: Jay and Shelly;sister and best friend, Sarah; grandparents: Carol Chance & Bill Fuller ofRockport, TX, Galen & Lola Plumb of Melcher, and Marge Hawn and Barb Plumbof Ankeny; aunt: Sherry & Clint Franklin; uncles: Mark Plumb and ShaneWright; many cousins, and friends. Her grandfather, Jerry Chance, preceded herin death.
Tributes
"We got to meet Grace during a Thanksgiving party at Dallas and Cheryl Gamble's home. She was joking and playing around with my nine year old son like she had known him for years. She was very sweet and had such a huge energy. It was so fun to see her "picking" on him and I think he may have had a little crush on her because of it. It's obvious she was an amazing girl who touched many people. Our condolences to your entire family."
"Jay, Shelly and Sarah, We did not know Grace but were saddened to hear of your family's loss, and offer sincere sympathy to all your family members. I know she is in the arms of the angels,and know that is little comfort sometimes, but trust that you will meet again. Sincerely, Pat (Long) Blom, Roy Long, and Deb and Brian Davis . "
"It's a small world...Jay has been my brother's friend (Gary Vander Heiden) since high school, and I went to school with Grace's uncle Mark. Also, our daughters have been playing softball (my daughter plays for Pella) for I don't know how many years. I have been following Grace's story and praying for all of you. My heart goes out to you all. I will continue praying for strength and guidance for you each day. Grace truly sounded like a terrific young girl."
"Our memories of Grace continue to make us laugh and smile. She was so full of life and such a competitor on the Diamond. Her beautiful singing voice and her spirited personality will always be in our hearts. Our prayers continue for your family. Love the Dayton Family - Jim, Teresa, Rosie, Luke, Lydia"
"Jay, Shelly, and Sarah, I attended high school with Jay, and can tell from all of the stories, tributes, and photos she had a heart of gold, just like her daddy. You are in my thoughts and prayers, and I rejoice that a wonderful young lady at such a tender age could make such a positive impact on the world. Looks like Grace did a lot of living in a short time. I'm so sorry for your loss, but celebrating the mark she made on the world."
"i did not know your daughter i was listening to how to save a life and saw the comments and Googled grace chance i read the tragedy she touched my heart i cried i do not know her but she sees amaizing just by seeing her photo rest in peace :{ "
"I did not know Grace personally but I heard about her from people who did know her. My thoughts and prayers are with her family at this time. She is with God now and is watching over everyone who knew her. Rest In Peace!"
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Grace's family, friends, and loved ones.
The Bare Family"
"I did not know Grace but heard of her from my son, Jake Berhow whose Band played at Grace's Benefit. I was inspired by her story and attended the benefit. I have prayed for her every day and night. I pray now that her family can live on with the good memories they have of Grace. I cannot imagine how you all must feel, but I just wanted you to know how much she touched a stranger and how much I am praying for you all to be able to remember the good times and know you will all be together again someday. "
"I did not know Grace, except thru my granddaughter, Casey. Casey thought the world of her. She was a very good friend. Casey speaks very highly of all of you. Coach, team Mother and Sara, classmate, you are her friends. My thoughts and prayers are with you, With sincere sympathy, Esther Ritchie"
"Jay and Shelly, our hearts go out to you and your family for the loss of your beautiful daughter. We didn't know Grace but from all we have read about her she sounded like a wonderful and delightful girl. Jay, we will be thinking of your family in the next few days and may God give you the strength you need to move forward. You are in our prayers. Again, so Sorry.. "
"We have never met but it's with deepest sympathy and tears I read Grace's obituary and watched her photo tribute. I have a beautiful baby granddaughter, born in Oct. Her name is Grace Lola Mae. Lola Mae was her great-grandma's name. Your beautiful Grace Mae also has a Grandma Lola. In memory of Grace, we are sending a memorial to St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Memphis, TN. God be with you and comfort you. "
"What I will remember most about Grace is her incredible energy and zest for life. From the time I met her as a young girl at Timberland at Meredith, she struck me as the kind of kid who would embrace life with all she had. Even through her struggles, it's obvious that's what she did. My life is forever changed by knowing her."
"I only actually met Grace once, two years ago. She was in 6th grade while I was in 8th. One of my friends introduced me. She was incredibly nice, and she looked so happy. I would have met her next year in band. I obviously didn't know her well, but when I went to the band concert on January 12th and saw the bari saxophone on stage next to the flowers, it made me cry."
"Grace was such a amazing girl! Sooo strong and beautiful. She will be missed soo much! She is an beautiful angel now. God has a plan for everyone! I love you Grace Chance! "
"I heard about Grace through greg and his wife jennifer waldrop and frontman for the group september lucas brightman. I helped at the house of bricks when i heard about her condition giving my all and dropping everything to stand by greg and jennifer and help them out, i did so 1. for grace and 2. because i knew greg from high school and wanted to donate my effots to the cause. I give my condolences to the chance family and am very sorry life has put them through all of this and hope that some day in the future that doctors can catch this before it happens to anyone else."
"she was fun loving and was very active. she made life fun, and did her best everything she has done throughout her life. "
"Grace was an a amazing friend sh will always be in my heart "
"I babysat Grace as a toddler, even then she was full of spunk! She would have Jay and Shelly frazzled by 730am on a daily basis :) one particular story sticks out in my mind. They came to my house one morning and Jay was just shaking his head, when I asked what happened he said, "Grace decided to run around the yard naked while I tried taking a quick shower!" Lol. Grace will be greatly missed. My thoughts and prayers will be Graces family as they try and cope with this great loss. Love, Angie Godfrey"
"We thought of you with love today, but that is nothing new. We thought about you yesterday, and days before that too. We think of you in silence, we often speak your name. All we have are memories, and your picture in a frame. Your memory is our keepsake, with which we will never part. God has you in His keeping, we have you in our hearts. A million times we`ve wanted you. A million times we cried. If love could only have saved you, you never would have died. It broke our hearts to lose you. But you didn`t go alone. For a part of us went with you... the day God called you Home. ~Author Unknown"
"My favorite memory is when my daughter Samantha and I drove to Memphis. Grace stayed the night with us in our hotel room. I could here the two of them giggling ALL NIGHT LONG! Yes, those two took the King size bed and I had the couch bed!! It was like having the two of them being home again. That is all they did was giggle. She had a beautiful smile!"
"Willa miss talking to you in the band room. I know now you are watching down on us and probably playing a softball game in Heaven. You are now one of God's beautiful Angels and we love you. Thanks Grace for being an inspiration to a lot of people. "
"i went to grace's school, but i was in seventh grade and didn't really know her, but participated in all supportive things (sticking ducktape to the back of my shirt). When i heard the tragic news it was dead silent and then all the girls busted out crying. I never really knew Grace, but i kind of wish i did since there were so many people crying. Grace Chance will for sure be missed by EVERYONE at UMS. R. I. P, Grace and one day I will get to meet you."
"Truly sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with your family. deb (lankford) Cross l"
"To Gracie and Family on behalf of the Winnipeg Lightning Family in Manitoba, Canada. We are thinking of you everyday. You are our inspiration, our strength, and our arrow. Love your Lightning Sisters, Chelsea, Rea, Rebecca, Shea, Kaity, Kendall, Sam, Sydney, Tamara, Jayonne, Randi, Mary, Taylor, and Madison Coaches Mike, John, Ken, and Dan And Families "
"Our family is thinking of you and wishing you peace. Grace lived up to her name and we feel blessed to have met her."