Jack Arlen Chapman

On Wednesday, October 15, 2025, surrounded by family and friends, the life journey of Jack Arlen Chapman ended on earth, and he entered into his heavenly home to be with Jesus Christ, where his mind and body will be forever healed. He suffered without complaints, he loved God, family, and country and showed it by his love, compassion, and a serving heart.

Jack was born to the late Millard A. and Elsie May Christopher Chapman on April 24, 1932, in Haywood County, NC. Growing up in a large, loving, and Christian home certainly helped to mold Jack into the outstanding and respected man he was. As a young boy, he attended Patton Elementary School, in 1951, he graduated from Canton High School and later continued his education at Blanton's Business College in Asheville. Jack's younger years growing up hold the most wonderful stories and memories that one could ever imagine. Beginning with Jack selling wood kindling to his neighbors out of his little red wagon, hoeing endless rows of corn for 5 cents an hour, creating a form to make cement blocks and selling them for 11 cents each, stoking the furnace fire at West Canton Baptist Church on Sundays and Wednesdays to keep the church warm for the church services and also working after school as a dishwasher at the Eureka Café in Canton. His father signed for Jack to receive his driver's license at the age of 12, and being a handsome young boy and almost 6ft tall- he looked much older than his age. His dad once sent Jack down a 67-foot well at the age of 12 to repair a foot valve, this making him a deep well mechanic by experience ! At age 14, Jack worked laying tile in the cafeteria at Champion Paper and Fibre Company until his young age was discovered. Also at a very young age, he served in the State Guard at Pendleton, Virginia, and was a designated driver for World War II veterans. He traveled to Detroit, Michigan, and worked with H& H Tube Company at the age of 18 years old. Jack raised chickens and had also worked as a landscaper. While working as a carpenter, he helped to construct the Sears store in Asheville, and Jack even built his own first home. What an amazing life for a young boy who followed God's call and left footprints of grace wherever he went.

Jack was greatly honored and proud to serve his country in the United States Navy for four years. He was stationed at the Naval Air Station in Oceanview, Virginia, serving on the USS Antietam aircraft carrier. His great love and respect for his country and his loyal patriotism never ceased. Following his military career, Jack was employed with Champion International for 39 years dedicated years before his retirement. While working at Champion, Jack was respected and greatly admired by his co-workers for his trust, loyalty, and leadership.

An unforgettable memory in Jack's life and one he often shared was the morning he asked his mother to use the family car to drive his beautiful sweetheart, Marvelene Smathers, to school. Jack and Marvelene decided to make a detour from school and drove to Clarksville, Georgia, where he and the love of his life were united in marriage. They returned that afternoon as Mr. and Mrs. Jack Chapman. They were both 15 years old on their marriage day, and when Jack passed away on Wednesday evening, they had shared 77 wonderful years together.

Jack was indeed a man of strong faith. He was a member of the Church of God of Prophecy for 46 years and held many positions within the church, serving as a Deacon, assisting in the remodeling of the church parsonage, and spearheading the building of the new church fellowship hall. He was also a member of the church finance committee for many years and had also held several church state offices. Jack loved his Lord and Savior, and his life was an example for others to follow. As busy as Jack was throughout the years, he always put God first in his life.

In 1968, Jack became interested in becoming involved in community service, hoping to help and serve others. He was elected to the Haywood County School Board, serving for four years and was very instrumental in getting supplemental pay for teachers, which helped to attract wonderful, qualified teachers to our area public schools. He served on the board of Haywood Christian Ministry, the Haywood County Hospital Foundation Board, and as director of the South West North Carolina Planning and Economic Development Commission. He had also served as the Financial Secretary of the Smoky Mountain Local 507 Union for more than 26 years. Jack was a supportive member of the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce. He served on the Haywood County Hospice Board of Directors, was elected by the residents of Haywood County to serve as a Haywood County Commissioner, and, through his progressive leadership, there was construction of a new public library for Canton, a new Junior High School Building, and a new appointment of a Haywood County Health Department director. Jack was also elected to serve on the Champion Credit Union Board of Directors and, for 12 loyal years, was a dedicated member of the Haywood County Election Board. In every role, on every board or committee, Jack gave not just his time -but his heart, his wisdom, and his complete dedication to the people he served and represented.

Sadly, Jack was diagnosed with dementia in 2020 and has fought a courageous battle until his passing. Though his terrible disease took pieces of him from us, it never erased the love, warmth, and spirit in his heart. Dementia is a cruel journey- not just for the one enduring this but also for those who walk beside them. Watching someone you love forget names, places, and moments you have shared is a kind of grief that unfolds slowly. It challenges you to find new ways to connect and stay close when words begin to fade. And yet, in the midst of this hardship, we saw love. Even when Jack no longer remembered his loved ones' names, when the stories of their lives became distant and faded, Jack's eyes would light up with a smile the moment his family entered the room. It was in these loving smiles that they knew his heart still recognized what his mind no longer could. Love is not easily forgotten. Dementia may have dimmed the light of his memory, but it never touched the core of who Jack truly was. He spent the past two years as a patient at Aston Park Health Care, where he received exceptional care, love, and compassion. The entire staff was amazing, and Jack's family will forever be grateful. Along with his family, Jack was blessed with a very special caregiver, Cathey Trimnal. Jack was "Papa Bear" to her. His face would light up when Cathey arrived. She prayed with him, sang with him, created fun activities for him, and loved him dearly. The family's heart runneth over with love and gratitude for her time and devotion.

Jack and his beautiful beloved Marvelene have shared a magical love story of 77 devoted years together. A bond forged and held through trials and triumphs of life. In accordance with Marvelene and Jack's deeply held wishes, the family honors their decision to forgo a traditional funeral service. Instead, together they chose to wait- not out of sorrow but in quiet patience for the moment when they could join each other to take their final journey side by side, as they have lived their earthly life. In time, their ashes will be lovingly combined, a symbol of a life truly shared. When they are at last together again- not just in memories, but in spirit and peace, they will rest at Crawford / Ray Memorial Gardens. Their legacy of love and enduring commitment remains a cherished example for all who knew them.

In our world today, it is rare that we find someone like Jack Arlen Chapman. His life of 93 years has been a testament of faith, compassion, and love. His life has been a ministry to others, comforting the hurting, lifting up the weary, and reminding us what it means to be a servant of our Lord and Savior.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, McKay Henson, James Chapman, Charles Chapman, and Edward Chapman; sisters, Betty Davis, Ola Vickers, Bertie Sanderlin, Flosie Geer, Gussie McCracken, and Katie Gibson; and two precious grandchildren, "Baby Al" and "Little Malcolm".

Jack is survived by the love of his life, his loving and faithful wife, Marvelene Smathers Chapman; two beautiful daughters, who were blessed with the most wonderful daddy in the world, Vanessa Poehlein (Stu) and Renai Holcombe; a niece, Jamee Crawford chosen to be their third daughter; grandchildren, Aaron Jamison (Michelle), Jennifer Blackwood and Anna Taylor (Mark); great-granddaughters, Avean and Bronwyn Jamison; great-grandsons, Ayden, Cooper and Palmer Blackwood, Jackson, Foster and Rhodes Taylor; many nieces and nephews; and also, a multitude of friends and others who Jack has touched with his friendship and his caring heart.