Obituary

Cleva Geneva Chapman, of Hale Center, gracefully entered Heaven on Saturday, January 14, 2023, at the age of 104. Cleva was born in Fannin County, TX, March 20, 1918. She is preceded in death by her husband, D R Chapman, daughter, Wynelle Perry and husband Charles Perry, son, Donald Chapman, daughter-in-law, Rita Chapman, daughter-in-law, Phyllis Chapman, granddaughter, Robin Chapman, five brothers, and three sisters.

Cleva is survived by a daughter, Mary Lou Rastetter and husband Roy of San Angelo, two sons, Michael Chapman of Fort Worth and Jerry Chapman and wife Marianna of Lubbock, daughter-in-law, Linda Chapman of Weatherford, grandchildren: Richard Perry, Dana Ridge, Jeff Chapman, Monty Chapman, Crystal Blaskey, Tony Rastetter, Rochelle Cabrales, Kyle Chapman, Cole Chapman, and Lauren Pizor, 14 great-grandchildren, and nine great-great-grandchildren.

Cleva grew up, in East Texas, as a farm girl, second to the youngest of nine children. Her father was a traveling church song leader, leading song worship at several different churches around their community. At a very young age, Cleva taught herself to play piano and would often travel with her father to the various churches as the pianist. Cleva married D R Chapman, in 1935, during the early years of the depression. Later in the 1940's, they moved to Acuff, Texas and then to Hale Center, Texas, in 1953.

Cleva was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Hale Center, teaching Sunday School, helping with Wednesday evening meals, and assisting with weddings and funerals. Cleva was always one of the first ladies in the community to prepare home meals for those in need. As a Christian should, she secretly helped dozens of people in the community. Lending a hand, sitting with someone in the hospital, overpaying someone for work, giving money and time to those in need, and sometimes just being there for someone. She firmly believed God had called her to serve anyone God placed in her path.

Cleva loved her family. She insisted on having the family all together at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and at least once during the summer, especially July 4th. She worked tirelessly in the kitchen preparing for those family occasions. It didn't matter if there weren't enough bedrooms for everyone. Everyone would just double up, sleep on the sofa, and make cots for the kids on the floor, just as long as the family was together.

During her remarkable lifetime, she was present for the end of WWI, Spanish Flu, Great Depression, WWII, and multiple other conflicts, Presidential assassination, 9/11, and Covid, just to name a few. She always had faith and trust in God and never waivered during all these times.

Graveside services will be at 11:30 a.m., Thursday, January 19, 2023, at Hale Center Cemetery, with Pastor Taylor Smith officiating and under the care of Ramage Funeral Directors.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggest memorials be made to Hale Center First Baptist Church PO Box 396 Hale Center, Texas 79041.