Lee was born to Sandra Louise Bucher and Ralph Lee Chapman on July 25, 1966 in Kokomo, IN. He took last and final breath on July 3, 2013 in St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix, AZ. Lee resided in Phoenix for the last 10 years. Always a Renaissance man, Lee’s charm, style, compassion and love will be greatly missed by so many family members and friends.
Lee graduated from Ohio State University with a BS in English with a concentration in Film. He also studied real estate at the Columbus State Community College, and was working toward his Master degree from Ottawa University. Lee loved reading, shopping, sewing and playing games with family and friends. Lee’s favorite quote was “The least that you can do in your life is to know what you hope for. The most that you can do is live inside that hope, running down it’s hallways touching the walls on both sides.” – Barbara Kingsolver, Lee’s favorite author.
Lee is survived by his partner Andy Pedersen, Phoenix; mother Sandra Chapman, Phoenix; mother Karen Gamache, Kokomo, IN; sister Renee Shanks, Fort Wayne, IN; sister April Deich and brother-in-law Jerry Deich, Kokomo; and sister Starr Chapman, Phoenix. He is also survived by God daughter Kura Marie Rapphun, Kokomo; 6 nephews: Matt Davis, FL; Christian and Dereck Rapphun, Kokomo; Zachary Pittman, Kokomo; Dominick, Germany; and Kevin Deich, Kokomo; 7 nieces: Amber Hole, Kokomo; Kayla Shanks, Peru, IN; Katelyn Shanks, Frankfurt, IN; Stacy Bitner, Kokomo; Melanie Busch, Germany, Lindsey Deich, KY, and Antonia “Toni” Pond, Phoenix. Lee also had many cousins, great nephews and great nieces in IN and FL.
Lee is preceded in death by sister Dawn Ward of Kokomo and nephew Jeremy Shelby of Kokomo. Lee was loved by many and will be dearly missed. In lieu of flowers, we would love contributions to be made in loving memory of Lee Chapman to “Live Out Loud.” Donations can be made online at http://www.liveoutloud.info/wp/donate/#paypal. Please remember to note that the donation is in Loving Memory of R. Lee Chapman.
A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, July 14 at 2 p.m at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home-4800 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85018. All are welcome.
Sasha and Ricky Almanza
There are people in life that you will meet, that slowly will just become apart of your daily routines and by chance become a friend.. then you will have people like Lee. The kind of person that will meet you, and make you want to be a better person, every single day. Then kind of person who will give you his last shirt on his back, or penny in the bank. The kind of person who knew everything about anything, and who could create the most beautiful things. Lee was a person who I will always hold close to my heart. I love you so much, and I will miss you. Thank you for everything you did for me and my husband. Thank you for being my friend, regardless of my forgetful habits and inability to prioritize things that matter. Because of you, I will be a better friend and a better person. I will remember how beautiful you were, and your smile. I will stay true to my promises that I made you when I said goodbye, and because of you, my value of friendship will be so much deeper. Will ALL of our love– R&S
Bobbie Morris
Lee will be deeply missed by those who knew his kind soul and his caring ways. He carried himself with style and grace always. I will miss our great conversations and his positive outlook on life despite lifes many hurdles. My prayers go out to his niece Toni who I know he adored and his family who all will miss him.
Bobbie Morris
Karen Mauvais
Good bye my dear friend. I am missing you. I smile when I think about how you mentored me when I first started work at UOP. I still use your visual each time I do my “SAMS” activities : ) Speaking of visuals, your eyes are amazing! Not only were they beautiful, through them you were able to see the world and all of its people in a very special way. Our loss. Heaven’s gain!
Love your friend,
Karen Mauvais
Jessie McKinley & Ben Fisher
You will be missed, Lee. My partner and I will remember when we first met you as our back alley neighbors! What a surprise to us and an honor to have known you. You will always be in our memories…