Betty Rae DePriest Chapman was born September 22, 1935, in Pierce, Oklahoma. She was a devoted and cherished wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and friend. Preceded in death by dearest husband and best friend of nearly 60 years, Leroy Chapman of Tulsa, parents Ruford and Anna Adaline DePriest, sisters, Geneva Logsdon, Barbara Witt, Lowetta Samuels, and brothers James, Ray, Othel, and Mitchell DePriest.
She is the beloved mother of Sheree Jordan and husband, Judd, of Skiatook, Shelley Kourtis and husband, Pete, of Owasso, Sheila Chapman, and Stacey Frieden of Tulsa.
Treasured grandmother to Jarad and Sarah, Jacob and Kerry, Jesse and Janae Jordan, Sophie and Matthew Cox, Jackson Kourtis, Anna, and Halle Frieden.
Loving great grandmother of Greenly, Dexter, Steele, Alex, Sam, AvaLeigh, Jasper, Nathaniel, Kysen, Kaylynn, Henry, and Kaine.
Sisters, Billie Sue Barnett of Tulsa, and Virginia Morgan of Burbank, CA.
Betty and her husband Leroy owned and operated Acme Furniture and Auto Sales for 50 years, and owned and managed Chapman Cattle Company.
Betty graduated from Bixby High School in 1954, and was awarded a scholarship to Lawrence Kansas.
She enjoyed her years in high school and participated in multiple organizations which included:
President of Student Council, Band Queen, Glee Club, Senior Trio, Baton Twirler, Bookkeeping Club, Yearbook Staff, Business Club, Basketball Team, and Future Homemakers Association.
The simplest pleasures of life brought great joy to Betty. She loved an evening cooking for her family, she also found beauty in the gardens she cultivated. She loved to listen to music and enjoyed multiple genres. She was a sports enthusiast, professional and college.
Betty’s interest in genealogy became her passion. She loved studying about her families’ history and the tracing of their lineages. She traveled to court houses, libraries, and any place necessary to research historical records and conduct detailed interviews. She collected documentation, certificates, photographs, and biographies. The results were displayed in charts or were written as narratives and consolidated into family journals. Her memory was exceptional, if she read it or heard it, she remembered it. Her family, past and present, were extremely important to her. It was a meaningful tradition to visit multiple cemeteries every Memorial Day weekend to honor late relatives. Her legacy will live on.
