Services for Joan Elizabeth Clack Chapman will be held Monday, November 9, 2009, at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church with Dr. Rick Baggett officiating. Interment service will be held prior at Rose Hill Cemetery.
Born on March 16, 1930, in Gainesville, Texas, to Joseph Henry Clack and Ruth Lillian Hocker Clack, she passed away Nov. 6, 2009, in Ardmore.
She moved to Ponca City, Oklahoma, when she was four years old in 1934. She graduated Ponca City in 1948 and graduated from Oklahoma A&M in 1952 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Home Economics. She was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority.
Mrs. Chapman married Fred A. Chapman, Jr. on August 9, 1952, in Ardmore, Oklahoma. After Fred’s service in the military ended, they moved to the Chapman farm in Russett, Oklahoma. They started their family with the birth of Ruth Elise Chapman, Elisa Ann Chapman, Fred Alexander Chapman III and Eric Joseph Chapman. The Chapman family moved to Ardmore in 1964.
Mrs. Chapman was very active in her church and civic organizations for many years. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Ardmore, Oklahoma. She was a member of the First Presbyterian’s Women’s Club, held positions of Session, Deacon, and Trustee. She was Clerk of the Session for 20 years from 1978 to 1998. She volunteered at the Ardmore Soup kitchen. She was a member and held positions on the Boards of Ardmore Children’s Shelter, Ladies of the Leaf, Campfire Board Leader, YWCA Board of Directors and Camp Director, Goddard Youth Camp Board from 1974 to 2008 (34 years), Goddard Activity Board, Ardmore Day Nursery Board for 25 years, Garden Club, Daughters of American Revolution, Joint Venture Club, Chickasaw Lake Club, Oklahoma Cattlewomen’s Association, Presbyterian Children’s Shelter, Waxahacie, Texas, Synod of the Sun Presbyterian, Trustee, and was on the Board of College of the Ozark’s now named University of the Ozarks for 10 years.
“Mimi,” as she was lovingly known by her grandchildren, was a wonderful cook. She was always there to cook for many or few. She was a true camper of life. She guided each of us with anecdotes and wisdom. She prepared her children, grandchildren, and beloved friends to treasure each moment spent together. Church and family were what she valued most. She has known many friends she considered as her family too.
She is survived by her husband of the home; two daughters, Ruth Coffey and her husband Chuck Coffey, and Elisa Stumpff and her husband, Kurt, and one son, Eric Chapman and his wife Tracie. Her grandchildren, Aaron Coffey, Seth Coffey, Sarah Coffey, Alexa Stumpff, Hannah Stumpff, Erica Chapman, Fred Chapman IV, and Victoria Chapman.
She is preceded in death by one son, Fred Alexander Chapman III, and her parents, Joseph and Ruth Clack.
Memorials may be made to the Chapman Education fund c/o The First Presbyterian Church, the Children Shelter of Southern Oklahoma or Goddard Youth Camp.
The family will receive friends this evening at the funeral home from 5 till 7 p.m.
Condolences may be made online at www.hdouglasfuneralhome.com.
Services are under the direction of the Harvey-Douglas Funeral Home and Crematory.
