Michael Chapman

Michael Chapman passed away on Jan. 9, 2017, at 4:30 p.m. after a courageous fight with cancer. Mike was a lifelong resident of Chattanooga, Tenn., and attended Collegedale Academy. Michael was born Jan. 29, 1955, in Chattanooga, Tenn., to Nancy Lynn Proffitt Chapman and George Mack Chapman and had one sibling, Vickie Lynn Chapman Rodgers. He had a career in heating and air-conditioning and ran his own service company for 10 years in Nashville, Tenn., Chapman Heating and Air. Michael never met a stranger and enjoyed making people laugh, much to the dismay of several of the teachers at Collegedale Academy. Legend has it that he turned disrupting a classroom into an art form. He grew up hunting quail every season with his father and grandfather on the farms in Decatur, Tenn., and always missed those times after Grandpa and Dad were gone. Some of his best times were with his friends. He was probably a bad influence on Fred Powers (or maybe it was the other way around) and many other great friends from Collegedale but they always came out of it with great stories to tell. Michael leaves a sister, Vickie Chapman Rodgers; brother-in-law, Patrick Rodgers; a niece, Kimberly Rodgers; and two nephews, Matt and Brad Rodgers. He also leaves five aunts, Harrietta Chapman Roberts, Joyce Proffitt, Mildred Proffitt, Sarah Kay Chapman, Vivian Chapman and one uncle, Ned Proffitt. He was predeceased by his mother, Nancy Lynn Chapman and father, George Mack Chapman; six uncles, Roy Ed Roberts, Phillip Proffitt, Richard Nye, Earl Proffitt, Joe Proffitt, Jim Proffitt, and Jimmy Kyle. He also leaves many wonderful cousins. Many thanks to those who visited Mike while he was fighting his sickness and those special people who came to the hospital and made him smile and laugh up until the last day!! His end of life celebration will be at Bowers Funeral Home in Decatur, Tenn., on Sunday Jan. 15, 2017, at 3 p.m. with Pastor Mike Pettingill officiating. The family will receive friends from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017, at the funeral home. You may go to www.bowersfh.som and sign the guest book and offer your condolences. Arrangements by Bowers Funeral Home, Inc., of Decatur, Tenn. 423-334-3661.