Obituary for Mary Chapman

Ponca City Now - February 17, 2017 2:58 pm

Mary Chapman

(June 9, 1922 – February 17, 2017)

Mary Junetta Chapman a longtime resident of Newkirk passed away on February 17, 2017, at AllianceHealth- Ponca City. She was 94 years old.

Mary was born on June 9, 1922 in Braman, Kay Co, Oklahoma, the daughter of Harry Orlando Onstott and Rebecca Susan McCleary. Mary’s family moved to a farm northwest of Newkirk when she was 9 years old. Mary attended school in Braman during her 1-3rd grade. She went to Grant School, northwest of Newkirk, from 4th to 8th grade. Mary went the first two years of high school in Arkansas City, Kansas while she lived with Leota Onstott-Cook, her sister. She finished 10th grade in Braman and attended 11th grade in Cushing while living with her brother Daniel. She returned to Arkansas City where she completed her high school education.

On October 9, 1939, in Sedan, Kansas, Mary Junette Onstott married Theodore Dale “Ted” Chapman of Newkirk, Oklahoma. The couple made their first home in Arkansas City, Kansas, where Ted was employed at Keith Packing House. Mary worked at the Keith Packing plant during 1943-44.

The Chapman’s later moved to northwestern Kansas where Ted worked as a driller in the oil field. In 1952 they moved to a farm northwest of Newkirk where they lived until 1969 when they built a home in Newkirk. Mary worked at C&B Cafe in Newkirk and Kroger’s IGA grocery store for about 12 years. She worked at the Kay County Treasury Office in Newkirk from 1980 to 1994. Mary also worked with the Kay County Election board during elections. Mary & Ted helped with meals on wheels to deliver food to the assisted living. She belongs to the First Christian Church in Newkirk, Oklahoma. In 1978 Ted retired from the construction businesses so that he and Mary could travel. They took numerous bus trips all over the east and west coast and north to Alaska.

Mary and Ted loved boating and water skiing with family and friends at Blackwell Lake and Grand Lake. They were avid fans of Bob Wills and country swing music. Ted and Mary traveled many years to Turkey, Texas for the annual Bob Wills celebration. They also went to Branson, Missouri several times a year to see their favorite country stars. Mary and Ted attended many weekend dance trips to Western Hills Lodge on Ft. Gibson Lake, which is where they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in 2009. When home in Newkirk, Mary and Ted danced several nights a week at various surrounding senior citizen centers.

Mary and Ted were members of the Moose Lodge in Ponca City since 1972 receiving legion of the Moose and fellowship degrees. Mary was an avid Oklahoma City Thunder fan. She knew all the players and rarely missed watching their games. Mary enjoyed swimming every morning and walking around her block in the afternoons when she wasn’t playing cards with her girls.

Mary is survived by her two sons, Dr. Leon Chapman and wife Jean of Surprise, Arizona; Dale Chapman and wife Lanita of Ponca City; one grandson, Eric Dale Chapman and wife Tammy, two great-grandchildren Skylar Joann and Wyatt Dale Chapman all of Gilbert, Arizona.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 74 years, Ted Chapman; her older brother, Daniel Robert Ernest Onstott; her sisters, Thelma Edith Onstott, Clella Ethel Onstott, Goldie Cordella Onstott, Freda Leota Onstott, and Laura Lee Onstott. Mary was the second youngest of the children.

Services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m., Thursday February 23rd at the First Christian Church in Newkirk with the Rev. Robert Montgomery of Ponca City officiating. Burial will follow in the Newkirk Cemetery.

Visitation will be at Roberts and Son Funeral Home in Blackwell beginning Monday, February 20th through Wednesday evening at 8:00 p.m. There will be visitation in Newkirk on February 22nd beginning at 10:00 a.m. until service time at 2:00 p.m. at the First Christian Church in Newkirk.

Casketbearers will be Curt Johnstone, Mike Hull, Jay Warren, Keith Nulik, Gerald Oestmann, and Mark Fagg.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Newkirk Senior Citizens Center or the First Christian Church in Newkirk through any branch of Eastman National Bank.