Fred C. Chapman

“Seeing is believing.” For many, those words simply represent a motto. But for Fred Chapman, it summarized in every way who he was. He was modest, quiet and observant, taking in everything around him and always thinking before acting. He was a realist, someone who was efficient and practical in everything he did. He was a friendly person who truly cared about those around him.

He was the son of Frederick and Maud Chapman. Raised in Stringtown, CA, Coffee Creek, CA, Sacramento, CA, he was brought up to be tolerant and trustworthy. As a child, he learned to be conscientious, responsible and punctual. These were all traits that he would carry with him throughout his life.

As a young boy, Fred was always aware of how others around him felt and this quality served him well. With a deep capacity to tolerate the feelings of others, Fred was generally able to avoid conflicts. It seemed as if Fred was the family member who was always working to keep stress at bay. Preferring a quiet environment where he could concentrate, Fred also had the ability to relate well with his family and friends. Fred was raised with one sibling. He had one younger brother, Jim. Fred was constantly involved in activities with his family. Fred and his siblings had the typical rivalries while growing up but they deeply cared for each other and shared many life experiences over the years.

Growing up, Fred was one of those children who didn’t need to be in the center of a whirlwind of activity. He was content to entertain himself. Fred was never pushy when it came to games and other activities, but rather, he was able to enjoy the pure fun these could bring. In just about everything he did as a child, Fred was intent on pleasing both the adults and the other children around him. Fred took part in a number of activities as a child. He took part in baseball and softball. In his spare time he liked fishing, building and models. Fred's memorable achievements included star pitcher at Christian Brothers High School.

Fred enjoyed learning. He always had a great memory and was particularly skilled at retaining factual information. Fred was generally quiet in class, learning best through observation. He often showed great concentration and was competent at completing the tasks at hand. Good with details, Fred was painstaking and accurate in his efforts. All of these talents culminated in a successful high school career. He graduated from Christian Brothers High School in 1944. Fred enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite subjects and teachers. His favorite class in high school was history and math. In addition to playing sports, he helped raise his brother, Jim.

Most folks would say that Fred was shy until they got to know him. Those who were privileged to know him well learned that he was a solid, good friend. Fred was reluctant to generalize about people, and he based his friendships on his personal experiences. Because of this, Fred best trusted those people that he truly knew. He was concerned about how those around him felt, and he always seemed to uncover the positive side of people. He could relate to others and had the ability to see their point of view, to “walk a mile in their shoes,” as the saying goes. The friends that he made, Fred kept. Later in life, he became friends with Wendi Choates, Ed Rickard, Julie Crettol, Nonaren Mooring, Larry Goyette, Lloyd Dickerson, Dick Randall and Jerry Burgess.

Love can’t be defined but must be experienced. That was so true for Fred. He was totally committed to Bettyo and maintained traditional ideals about marriage. It was as if Fred naturally sensed his spouse’s needs, and accepted those feelings unconditionally. Although Fred disliked conflict, he did not take flight from discord, but rather sought to preserve harmony even during the most trying times.

Fred was a good father to his children. He had “old fashioned” parental values and could handle typical family conflicts in a fair and calm manner. Because he trusted emotions, Fred was reluctant to force issues and used gentle persuasion to resolve situations. In this way he seemed to radiate an aura of warmth and caring to those around him, always thinking before acting. In addition, Fred was a master planner. No matter how hectic life around him might be, he seemed to know and track everyone’s schedule. Fred was blessed with One child, Son, Ray. They were also blessed with Two grandchildren, Evan and Camryn.

If you gave Fred a deadline, he would meet it. At work, Fred was always on task. Without hesitation, Fred could adhere to any assignment and see it through to its completion. His primary occupation was oil refinery terminal supervisor. He was employed for 42 years for Western Hiway Oil company, Signal Oil & Gas, Phillips Petroleum, Tesoro Oil & Gas. During that time, Fred excelled in working with small groups in order to complete assignments. He was able to quickly grasp concrete ideas and could organize and plan the best way to accomplish things with remarkable consistency. Fred was good at staying on track and was considerate in listening to what others had to say. In this way, Fred had a true gift for being able to come up with practical resolutions to difficult problems. He was often the team member who managed to put forth a win/win solution for all parties.

Fred was an Army veteran, 11th Airborne, 8th Army. He seemed to thrive on the routines offered up by the military. Being a literal thinker with a calm exterior helped him handle the rigors of the military. He was in the South Seas and Japan. Fred saw action for two years, WWII. Through his hard work and dedication, he achieved the rank of Radio Broadcaster WKLD.

Fred liked to experience things first hand, in addition to simply learning about them. This quality influenced Fred's choice of leisure time activities. A methodical and patient worker, Fred preferred to set aside uninterrupted time to work on his hobbies. His favorite pursuits were fishing, backpacking, spending time with his dogs. Fred was content to sit quietly alone, enjoying his hobbies all by himself and could often be found just reading about his favorite pastimes.

While thorough and measured in his approach to things, Fred often liked to physically do things rather than just think about them. He was like that with sports. In high school, Fred played baseball and softball. He also enjoyed the statistical data and the facts behind the sports. In this way, he was something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite teams whenever he got the opportunity.

Anyone who traveled or went on vacation with Fred had smooth sailing. It was often taken for granted that he was the trip planner. He would start early and examine all of the possibilities, selecting the best and most effective options. Favorite vacations included backpacking in Mount Whitney area.

Fred had Jonathan, an Australian Shepherd Dog, who was his best friend for 12 years. His family was rounded out by his oodles of cats. Fred was as loyal to his pets as they were to him.

When Fred's retirement finally arrived in 1991, he was well prepared. He had taken the time to learn about his various options and chose his course wisely. His new life involved relocating to Bellingham, Washington to be closer to family. In retirement, he found new pleasure in long walks with his dogs, grooming his 5 acres of lawn. Even in retirement, Fred continued to stay in touch with his old friends while making plenty of new acquaintances. He was active in the community and felt fulfilled with the opportunities retirement offered him.

Fred passed away on June 28, 2010 at Providence Hospital, Everett, WA. Fred fought a long battle against Alzheimers. He is survived by wife Bettyo, son Ray, daughter-in-law Sandra, grandchildren, Evan and Camryn. Services were held at Evergreen Funeral Home. Fred was laid to rest in Evergreen Cemetery, Everett, WA.

It is said that some people can’t see the forest for the trees. Fred was able to focus on each individual tree, tending to its needs, thus making the forest stronger as a whole. Fred was a trustworthy, pragmatic and sympathetic person, the kind of man to whom everyone was drawn. He was thorough and practical. Fred Chapman was very literal with his words. You always knew where you stood with Fred. He will be missed.