Hugh Moody Chapman, Jr.

Hugh Moody ìH. M.î Chapman, Jr. was born August 14, 1929 at the Merchantís Hotel in Cleveland, Oklahoma. The hotel was owned and operated by his grandmother, Lula Deuel. He was the son of Hugh Moody and Thelma L (Deuel) Chapman. H. M. or as he was known throughout the country, Rusty was raised in Cleveland as his parents operated the Chapman Funeral Home. He attended local schools until he was inducted into the service of his country in the United States Navy at the age of seventeen. He served during the Korean Conflict spending most of his time in Guam. Upon his honorable discharge, Rusty returned to Cleveland and completed his education receiving his diploma from Cleveland High School in 1948. He was married to Patsy Ruth Powell on May 26, 1951 in Bentonville, Arkansas. The couple had four sons, Hugh, Vern, Frank and Zane. Upon his return from military service to Cleveland, Rusty began working in the oilfield of Oklahoma and Kansas as a roughneck and roustabout. He later returned to Cleveland and accepted employment at the Johnson Oil Refinery (later Kerr-McGee) and worked their until starting a career as a pipeline welder. On March 27, 1964 he was initiated into the Pipeline Local 798 as a welder and began a thirty-two year career as a pipeline welder. He worked on pipeline construction projects including spreads in open cross-country areas, crossing projects, and special sections including difficult terrain and enviornmentally sensistive projects throughout the United States incluidng Alaska and Canda; retiring in 1996. Rusty enjoyed all sports but expecially enjoyed watching his grandsons wrestle. He traveled all over the state watching the Bristow Purple Pirate Wrestling team and then later enjoyed the Claremore Zebras; however , he was always a Cleveland Tiger at heart. He also enjoyed collecting and shooting pistols; often attending gun shows in the area. He especially enjoyed the Wanenmacherís Tulsa Arms Show held annually at the QuickTrip Center. His favortie pastime, however, was telling stories and visting with his family and friends. He also liked to watch western movies on television and listening to country and western music; he was also an avid reader. He possessed a unique ability to make people laugh. His quick wit and sense of humor was always on display and his vocabulary of one liners was amazing. ìWound up tighter than a ten day clock, î Iím in a nine line bind;î to mention a couple Rusty assisted with the distributions of meals through the Cleveland Meals-On-Wheels program for many years and was always availble to transport someone to the hospital or healthcare provider. He enjoyed taking friends to dinner at restaraunts all over northeastern Oklahoma and spent countless hours dining at Judy Annís. He often could be found at the Mid-America Stockyard cafÈ in Bristow eating lunch with family and friends. Until for health reasons, Rusty could be found almost daily visting and solving the worldís problems at Lesís Total Station. He was proud of his family and always appeared in good spirits dispite losing his son, Frank in 1995, wife, Pat in 1997 and subsequently two sons, Zane and Vern. Rusty passed away on Monday, July 23, 2012 at the Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa at the age of eighty-two. In addition to his wife and three sons, Rusty was preceded in death by his parents, H. M. and Thelma Chapman; and two sisters, Billie Lou Black and Betty Jo Sears He is survived by his son and his wife, Hugh and Debi Chapman of Bristow, Oklahoma; six grandchildren, Ryan and Rachel Chapman of Owasso, Oklahoma, Emilee and Brad Hedrick of Edmond, Oklahoma, H. M. Chapman and Shelly Lee of Claremore, Oklahoma, Robyn Chapman of Howe, Oklahoma, Andy Chapman of Cleveland, Oklahoma and Jack Chapman of Bristow, Oklahoma; eight great-grandchildren, Bailee, Noah, Olivia, Corbin, Ethan, Rhys, Maddox and Spencer; one great-granddaughter soon to be born, Hadley; brother and his wife, Dr. Frank and Gloria Chapman of Bristow, Oklahoma; two daughter-in-laws, Dorothea Hendricks and Karen Chapman; numerous nephews and nieces, family and friends A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, July 28, 2012 at the Chapman-Black Funeral Home with Emile Bayouth officiating. Following cremation, he will be interred at Woodland Cemetery in Cleveland under the direction of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home.