Dolores "Dee" Chapman

Dee was born on March 24, 1930, in Kansas City, Missouri, to parents Alfred and Velma Martin. Shortly thereafter, she moved with her parents and her identical twin sister, Anita, to Tipton, Missouri. Their house was filled with music growing up: Dee took piano lessons from her parents and learned to play the flute. She also participated in choir and often sang with her family at home.

Dee graduated from Tipton High School in 1948. She attended William Woods College in Fulton, Missouri, before transferring to the University of Missouri in 1950 to pursue her love of music. During her time at Mizzou, she participated in University Singers, a selective choral ensemble of the MU School of Music.

She also found another love at Mizzou—the love of her life, Thomas “Tom” Chapman. Tom spotted Dee one afternoon at Gaebler’s Black and Gold Inn, a popular student hangout. As Tom tells it, she was sitting in a booth with her sister, her mom and a friend from Tipton, and he thought, “Wow! She’s pretty cute!” Under the guise of placing a phone call, Tom went to a phone booth conveniently located across from their table. In reality, his “phone call” was a cover to spend a little more time in Dee’s presence. The two officially met a few weeks later when Tom and his longtime friend saw Dee and Anita on campus. They walked the sisters home, and Tom asked for Dee’s number. This time, he followed up with an actual phone call and asked her out.

The pair went on their first date on October 22, 1950—an evening of dancing to a big band at Brewer Fieldhouse. It was also the evening when Dee quickly learned that Tom wasn’t the most graceful on the dance floor, but she told him, “It’s all right; you just can’t dance.”

A few months into their relationship, Tom joined the Army and would soon be deployed to Korea. Before he left for Officer Candidate School in Oklahoma, Dee pressed Tom on a date one evening at the student union. “What are your intentions?” she asked. Tom shared that he wanted to marry her, and the two ultimately decided to wed after he returned from serving in the Korean War. During the war, they kept in touch by letter.

Dee continued her studies and completed a Bachelor of Music with an emphasis in music education in 1952.

On June 5, 1954, she married Tom at St. Ann Catholic Church in Normandy, Missouri. Over the next few years, they lived in Columbia and St. Louis and welcomed their three children. Daughter Joan was born in Columbia in October 1955, son Tom was born in July 1957 in St. Louis, and son Mark was born on their wedding anniversary in 1960 in St. Louis. Dee taught private piano lessons during their time in St. Louis.

In 1965, Dee and Tom moved back to Columbia, where they would spend the next five decades. During a distinguished career with Columbia Public Schools, Dee taught vocal music to countless junior high and elementary school students. While teaching, Dee earned her master’s degree from Mizzou in music education.

The first of her four grandchildren was born in 1989, and Dee and Tom would spend much of the next two decades making the 10-hour drive from Columbia to the Dallas area to visit and help care for their cherished grandkids.

Dee retired in 1992 after teaching for a total of 28 years but remained involved in the Columbia community. Dee was a member of the Boone County Unit of the Missouri Retired Teachers Association, serving as president from 1997 to 1998. Dee was also active at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, including volunteering at the holiday bazaar for many years.

In 2018, Dee and Tom moved to North Texas to be closer to daughter Joan and son Mark. They enjoyed lots of family gatherings, celebrations and holiday dinners.

Dee will be remembered in many ways: As an endlessly kind, compassionate and thoughtful person—her warmth and positivity benefited everyone around her. As a gifted musician and educator who shared her passion with generations of students. As a generous and skilled cook, passing down recipes for her legendary mostaccioli and manicotti. As an adored and supportive mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and aunt. As a trusted sister. And as a dedicated and beloved wife to Tom for 67 years.

Dee is survived by her husband, Thomas Chapman Jr.; children: Joan Flandreau (Herb Flandreau), Thomas Chapman III, Mark Chapman (Susie Chapman); sister, Anita Heidbrink; and grandchildren: Michelle Flandreau (Evan Bush), Melissa Flandreau, Jack Chapman, Nick Chapman. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, Alfred and Velma Martin.

The family will hold a memorial service at a later date.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Sparkman-Crane.com for the Chapman family.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.