May Winifred Chapman

May passed on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at the age of 95 in Waco, Texas. She was born to Jay Perry Lewis and Edith Ettie Jane Doran Lewis on May 15, 1931, in Wichita, Kansas. She had two siblings, Joy May Lewis and Doris Elaine Lewis Hayes.

May graduated from Wichita High School East on May 24, 1949. She started working as a waitress at the Flying Saucer Café at Pawnee and Ida in June of 1948 where she met her husband, Leonard L. Chapman. They married on October 9, 1949, in Wichita, Kansas. After they married, she worked in the office at a cookie factory. She then worked as a homemaker and raised her three girls. In 1967 May began working as a cook at Campus High School for USD261 Haysville, Kansas. Making bread was one of her responsibilities. She eventually became the cafeteria manager and worked there until she retired in 1993.

May was a charter member of Trinity Baptist Church in Wichita where all the family attended during their childhood. She believed in Jesus and always made sure the children went to Sunday School, church services, and Bible School. She even helped during Bible School. Later in life, May and Leonard were members of New Testament Baptist Church in Wichita where they were regularly attended. She handled sending cards to others from the church, she sang in the choir, handled missionary payments, helped clean the church, and always worked in the kitchen during church events. For her whole life she served others. May had such a giving spirit.

May and Leonard helped run an annual Muscular Dystrophy Association Jamboree in Wichita. They had raffles where they worked to raise money for MDA that was contributed to the Jerry Lewis Telethon. She also ran the kitchen during the event.

Leonard served in the Navy during World War II, and May knew that veterans deserved to be supported so she always contributed to different veteran organizations.

May had a sweet tooth for anything chocolate…cookies, cakes, ice cream, chocolate milk. Lasagna was her favorite main dish. Her favorite color was blue. Her wedding dress was blue satin. She also enjoyed several hobbies. She embroidered lots of pillow cases and tea towels. She also crocheted many blankets… all of the children have blankets that she gifted them with. Cooking was her favorite thing to do.

May was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard L. Chapman, of Wichita, Kansas; parents, Jay Perry Lewis and Edith Ettie Jane Doran Lewis of Wichita, Kansas and siblings, Doris Elaine Lewis Hayes, (husband Forest Hayes) of Wichita, Kansas and Joy May Lewis, of California. She is survived by her daughters, Wanda Chapman (Arthur) Vestal, of Robinson, Texas, Karen Chapman (Timothy) Garst, of Rose Hill, Kansas, Sheri (Michael Bauman) Chapman, of Mission, Kansas; grandchildren, Col. David Mark (Michelle) Vestal USA (Ret.) of Robinson, Texas, Stephanie M. Vestal of Robinson, Texas, Brian J. Garst, (wife Sonia Garst) of Wichita, Kansas, Navy Mass Communication Specialist First Class Eric (Erin) Garst (Ret.), of Edgewater Park, New Jersey; great grandchildren, Midshipman First Class Evelyn Garst, U.S. Navy, of Edgewater Park, New Jersey, Electrician’s Mate Fireman Leonard J. Garst, U.S. Navy, of Edgewater Park, New Jersey, Anthony J. Martinez, of Robinson, Texas and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held at Resthaven Mortuary, 11800 West Highway 54, Wichita, KS 67209, US, on June 26, 2026, from 9:00 am to 10:00 am, followed by a Funeral Service at the same location on June 26, 2026, at 10:00 am. A Committal Service will take place at Resthaven Gardens of Memory, 11800 West Highway 54, Wichita, KS 67209, US, on June 26, 2026.