Douglas Eugene Chappell III

Douglas Eugene Chappell III was born in the early morning hours of Christmas Eve, 1983, in Spokane, Washington, the youngest child and only son of Kristine and Douglas Chappell, Jr. While his life began in Washington, his soul truly belonged to Oakland, California-the city where he was raised from kindergarten and that shaped the man he would become.

Eugene lived just one month past his 42nd birthday. He spent that final Christmas Eve surrounded by his family and friends, celebrating with music, good food, and an abundance of love.

Eugene was a creative and resilient soul who fiercely loved the people in his life. Known to his family simply as "Eugene," he was loyal and without fear when it came to his friends, family, and the dogs he loved so dearly. His creative spirit flourished through his work as a musician as well as his passion for cooking.

An accomplished producer, Eugene was widely recognized for hip-hop beats and instrumentation that reverberated with his innate creativity and unique sound. He was also known for his culinary skills; his specialty was choice cuts of meat and slow-cooked soul food dishes.

Despite the challenges he faced, Eugene was a man of hope who sought to overcome the constraints of his history and illness. He succumbed to a brain tumor just days before the 11-year anniversary of its first discovery. His ability to survive far longer than most with his specific diagnosis was a testament to his strong will and indomitable spirit-a gift of time for which his loved ones are profoundly grateful. Throughout it all, he passionately believed in racial and social justice, living by the words of Bob Marley and other political voices that spoke of liberation from oppression and tyranny.

Eugene's commitment to his faith was as profound as his love for music and food. He believed in the power of prayer, often interceding on behalf of those he loved. He found great joy in gospel music, particularly groups like Commissioned and the Winans, which served as a cornerstone of his spiritual practice. His faith was a source of comfort and strength, guiding him through life's storms. As it is written, "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth" (Psalm 145:18). To Eugene, this was not just scripture but a principle he lived by every day.

Eugene is survived by his mother, Kristine Chappell, and his beloved sisters: Sasha, Karen, Cassie, Leah, and Kimberly, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, and uncles from the Burke, McCain, Udell, and Lomax families whom he loved deeply. He now joins the ancestors, his father Douglas Eugene Chappell, Jr., in the heavens above.

Eugene's life was a melody-a tune that will continue to resonate in the hearts of all who knew him.