Tommy Ray Chapman, 86, of Statesville, N.C., passed away on Monday, November 4, 2024, at the Gordon Hospice House. He was born on February 27, 1938, to the late Arthur Lee Chapman and Fannie Mae Houston Chapman.

Tommy moved into the Sunoco service station on C Street in 1968, and in 1992, he and his son, Tommy Ray Jr. purchased the land and business, and it became Chapman’s Travelers Service. The service station was Tommy’s favorite place to be even up until his last days.

Tommy married the love of his life, Shelby Jean Bowman, in 1956, and he had a beautiful marriage until her passing in 1999. He had three children whom he loved and provided a great life for. He loved seeing his customers, who were long-time friends, each day at the station. He was dedicated to his faith, his family and his work, and leaves his family with many wonderful memories. He was a member of Beulah Baptist Church and the West Iredell Ruritan. He served as a Deacon as well as a Sunday School teacher.

In addition to his parents and his wife, Tommy was preceded in death by a daughter, Trudy Rhyne; daughter-in-law, Stephanie Chapman; sisters, Dorothy Privette, Minnie Fulbright and Ramona Davidson; and brother, Ted Chapman.

Those left to cherish his memory are daughter, Sandra Kepley (Gary); son, Tommy Ray Chapman Jr. (Tonya); grandchildren, Tara Black (Myron), Jason Rhyne, Jodie Montaigne (Jamie), Scarlett Chapman, and Savannah Chapman-Mayes (Zackary); great grandchildren, Tristan Black, Justyn Black, Ryder Rhyne, Jenner Rhyne, Bayleigh Rae Johnson, and Xander Ray Mayes, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, November 6, at Beulah Baptist Church with Rev. Brian Burgess officiating. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Gordon Hospice House, 2341 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625; Beulah Baptist Church, 1851 Old Mountain Road, Statesville, NC 28677; or West Iredell Ruritan, 133 Warrior Drive, Statesville, NC 28625.

Troutman Funeral Home is serving the family.