Chet Westergard, 77, of Hayesville passed away Saturday, April 5, 2014 in a Union County, GA hospital. Chet was born in Detroit, Michigan. He then moved to Florida after his service in the United States Army and married his wife, Linda in 1962. They subsequently moved to Los Angeles, California where he was in management with Transamerica Life Insurance Company. In 1977, Chet returned to Florida and joined Merrill Lynch as a regional Estate Planning Specialist. He continued in that capacity after moving to Little Rock, Arkansas in 1990, where he later retired. After retirement, Chet moved to Hayesville in 2004. He was a life / benefactor member of the NRA and an ardent supporter of the 2^ndAmendment. He was a member of the Clay Masonic Lodge No. 301 as well as being a Shriner. He was an active member of the Chatuge Gun Club in Towns County, Georgia and a board member of the Clay County Republican Party.

He was the son of the late Chet and Irene Westergard.

Surviving are his wife of 52 years, Linda Westergard; a daughter, Kendra Martin and husband, Robert of Hayesville; a son, Marc Westergard and wife, Vicki of St. Petersburg, Florida; a brother, Terry Westergard and wife, Sandy of McIntosh, Florida; and three grandchildren, Trevor Westergard, and Kate and Beth Burns.

A celebration of life service was held at 2:00 PM Wednesday, April 9 at the Chapel of Ivie Funeral Home, Hayesville with the Rev. Charlie Shelton officiating.

The family requests flowers be sent or memorials be made in memory of Chet Westergard to the NRA at NRA-ILA, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, Virginia 22030 or at www.nra.org or to the Autism Society of America, 4340 East West Highway, Suite 350, Bethesda, Maryland 20814 or at www.autism-society.org.

Ivie Funeral Home, Hayesville was in charge of all arrangements.