Billie Lou Black

Billie Lou Chapman Black, lifelong Cleveland resident, passed away Friday, June 18, 2004 at her home at the age of seventy-nine years, six months and nineteen days.
Billie, nicknamed Grand Billie, was born November 29, 1924 at her grandmother's hotel, (Merchant's Hotel) in Cleveland, Oklahoma. She was the second of four children of Hugh Moody and Thelma Jean (Deuel) Chapman. Billie was raised in the Chapman Funeral Home in Cleveland and started working answering the business phone at the age of fifteen. She attended Cleveland schools and was involved in the Drum and Bugle Corp, Band and Glee Club in high school. She graduated from Cleveland High School in 1942.
Billie met her husband to be through his cousin about a year prior to their marriage when Merle was working at Bowman Grocery. The couple was married on February 20, 1942 in Cushing, Oklahoma, just two months prior to Merle's induction into the United States Army in World War II. Their first son, Merle III was born while Merle was serving overseas during the war and was nearly three years old before he was seen by his father. Billie raised her son in the funeral home while Merle was in the service. They had two other sons, Richard and Gene.
After the war, Billie and Merle assisted her father and mother, Hugh and Thelma Chapman in the daily running of the funeral home and ambulance service. After the death of Mrs. Chapman, they continued to assist in the operation of the Chapman Funeral Home until Mr. Chapman's retirement in 1963. Shortly thereafter, Merle and Billie purchased the funeral home and changed the name to Chapman-Black Funeral Home. Billie was a licensed funeral director and was honored several years ago by the Oklahoma Funeral Director's Association as a twenty-five year licensee. She has remained active in funeral service for nearly sixty-five years, assisting families in the Cleveland area in their time of need. Her grace and compassionate care of those during their time of loss will be remembered by her family and many friends she has known in this community. Her witness and quiet testimony of her love for her Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ was her strength and shield after the death of her husband and soul mate of nearly fifty-seven years on January 20, 2000.
Billie's hobbies during the past fifty years included, paint by number, ceramics, riding horses, assisting her husband with his photography, woodworking and cabinet making. She spent countless hours reading her bible and daily testimonials.
Grand Billie is survived by three sons and their spouses, Merle L. III and Judy Black of Norman, Oklahoma, Richard Chapman and Kelley Black of Enid, Oklahoma, and Gene Chapman and Tamza Black of Cleveland, Oklahoma; four grandchildren, Travis Gene Black of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Greg Black of Owasso, Oklahoma, Erica Parker of Mesquite, Texas and Jillian Black of Enid, Oklahoma; two great-grandchildren, Tyler Laymon and Rustin Laymon, both of Enid, Oklahoma; two brothers, Dr. Frank Chapman of Bristow, Oklahoma and H. M. Rusty Chapman of Cleveland, Oklahoma; and a sister, Betty Sears of Lubbock, Texas; aunt, Elizabeth Bunch of Bakersfield, California; a number of nephews, nieces and cousins.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Monday, June 21, 2004 at the Chapel of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home with Dr. Larry Wilson and Rev. George Boston officiating. Burial will be at the Woodland Cemetery under the direction of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home.