1928-2023

Lorene Amira Chappell went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Thursday, March 30, 2023.

She spent most of her life in the Assembly of God church but for the last few years, she attended Word of Victory Church, where she loved seeing her grandchildren lead praise and worship and preach.

Lorene was known to most people as “Memaw” and to some as “The Sweet Lady.” She was born on Oct. 6, 1928, in Grand Saline, to Charlie and Mary (White) Weaver. She was the youngest of eight children. She moved to Dallas in her teens and went to work at Tex-Light, where she met the love of her life, William “Papa” Chappell. They married on Oct. 14, 1944. They had their firstborn, Larry, the next year, and almost 11 years later, their daughter, Kathy, was born. They raised their family in Dallas until they moved to Irving in 1963.

William and Lorene moved to the Canton area in 1975. In 1995, Lorene started baking all kinds of goodies to help raise money for her granddaughter’s (Brittani’s) cheerleading, however, when the cheerleading ended, the locals weren’t quite ready for “The Sweet Lady” to stop bringing her pound cakes, among other treats, so she kept baking for another 20 years! Everyone loved “The Sweet Lady”.

Lorene lost her beloved other half in 2004 after being married almost 60 years. They loved each other as Christ loves the church. They both left a legacy for their family. She was also preceded in death by her parents, and all her siblings.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Judy Chappell, of Colleyville; her daughter, Kathy Engebretson of Canton; grandson and his wife, Greg and Kim Chappell of Van; grandson and his wife, Jud and Jenny Chappell of Nacogdoches; granddaughter and her husband, Jennifer and Landon Fariss of Colleyville; granddaughter and her husband, Jasie and Matt Perry of Canton; granddaughter and her husband, Brittani and Blake Fowler of Canton, and grandson and his wife, Josh and Alyssa Engebretson of Austin. Memaw and Papa also have 11 great-grandchildren: Cash; Rylie (and her husband Zach); Will, Andrew; Dylan; Kaylan; Eden; Samuel; Judah; Maddox and Bretson, and one great- great-granddaughter, Reese. She loved her family, and they all will treasure the individual memories of time spent with her.

Visitation was held at Eubank Funeral Home in Canton with a Memorial Service that followed on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. Her grandsons, Josh Engebretson and Jud Chappell, were officiating the service. The graveside and burial took place at Haven of Memories in Canton.