John Chapman

John Edgar Chapman was born on March 9, 1945 and passed from this life on October 25, 2024.

John was a loving child, son, brother, father, husband, uncle, cousin, and friend. He was a man who was nothing, if not honest. He lived a long and purposeful life. John was an artist.

John was born and raised by Anna Margaret Jones and L.M. Chapman in Cleveland TN, along with his big brother, David, and three older sisters: Betty, Shirley, and Harriett. His closest pal growing up was his nephew, Buddy (Betty's oldest), who was just a couple years younger.

After school John wanted nothing to do with career and family at his young age. He was curious and wanted more adventure than the average person. So he hitchhiked across the country to pick apples in a Washington orchard for the summer. He was living his dream.

John returned home with incredible memories, life experience, some lifelong friends, and a zest for what lie ahead in life. He pursued his interests of creating art, while paying the bills with his carpentry skills. He fell in love with Donna Ledford and was a father to Matthew and Chris Chapman.

John was commissioned for numerous public murals and other works that are still on display in several Cleveland businesses and has family portraits in countless homes. He created paintings of historic significance for calendars published in both Bradley and Polk Counties. All of his siblings and their children have harbored his works and portraits, along with a long string of friends that he made along the way in life. John maintained many friends and fans.

After being laid low by a stroke decades ago John could no longer express himself in paintings, creative carpentry, musical compositions, or field trips hunting for arrowheads along the Hiwassee River. He lived a simple yet purposeful life writing novels and pontificating his views of humanity and humor on social media.

John is preceded in death by his parents, L.M. and Anna Margaret Chapman; brothers, Donald Kenneth and David Eugene Chapman; and sisters, Betty Lou Rogers and Shirley Ann McCurry.

He is survived by sons, Matthew Chapman and Chris Chapman; and his sister, Harriett Grace Runion.

John will be greatly missed.

A memorial gathering will be held on November 24, 2024 at 1:00 pm on Parksville Lake. For details contact: kevinrogerstn@gmail.com