Edward Earl Chapman, Sr., 82, of Shamrock Acres (Beauxart Gardens), died Saturday, December 29, 2012, at Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas, Beaumont. Born September 21, 1930, in Jasper, he was the son of Robbie Lee Cowart Chapman and Edward Hollis Chapman.  Edward was a United States Navy and Marine Corps veteran, having served during the Korean War. 

He retired from Gulf Oil as a security Lieutenant/Investigator and also worked for the Nederland Police Department and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department.  Edward was a past Master and fifty-five year member of Nederland Masonic Lodge #1368 A.F. and A.M., and a Deacon at Hillcrest Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife of fifty-nine years, Anna Chapman of Shamrock Acres; daughter, Debra Harper and her husband, Preston, of Nederland; sons, Edward E. “Butch” Chapman, Jr. and his wife, Pamela, of Beauxart Gardens and Tommy Chapman and his wife, Kathy, of Nederland; grandchildren, Shane Chapman and his wife, Raeann; Jason Chapman and his wife, Brandi; Jennifer Byrd and her husband, Jesse; Eddie Arnold and his wife, Laurie; Steven Arnold and his wife, Amber; Andrew Arnold and his wife, Danna; Cassie Arnold; Katie Chapman; and Chance Chapman; great grandchildren, Zara, Ryan, Ronnie, Mason, Destiny, Aubrey Anna, Debra, Baylee, Taylor, Alyson, Halle, Caylin, Anna Grace, Brendan, Janessa and Avry; sisters-in-law, Pat Sellars of Silsbee, and Glenda Burnaman and her husband, Tom, and Mary Dennis all of Nederland; brothers-in-law, Karl Frank Thompson and his wife, Susan, of Nederland; Joe Thompson and his wife, Pat, of Clute; and James Nobles of Port Neches;  and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward Hollis Chapman and Robbie Lee Cowart Langston; step father, Frank A. Langston; and brother, William E. Sellars.

A gathering of family and friends for Mr. Chapman will be Tuesday evening, January 1, 2013, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., at Broussard’s, 505 North 12th Street, Nederland.  His funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, January 2, 2013, at Hillcrest Baptist Church, 3324 Park Drive, Nederland, followed by burial at Memory Gardens of Jefferson County.