Patricia Chappell

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Patricia “Pat” Jeanette Chappell, 87, a resident of Blue Springs, MO died peacefully after a short illness at her home Thursday, June 23, 2022.  She was one of two children born to Margaret and Albert Rodgers. Patricia was born and raised in Sullivan, Missouri. Her brother Buddy was three years younger than her and frequently was a thorn in her side during her young life. That changed over time and Buddy and Patricia became very close.

Pat’s father was an auto mechanic and her mother, Margo, was a talented musician and played the piano professionally for ragtime bands and dance parties throughout her life. Pat was gifted academically and was the salutatorian of her high school class. During high school and afterwards, she worked at Meramec Caverns selling tickets and souvenirs, and her brother was a cave guide. She lost her father at a very young age when he was only 47 years old.  Pat met Bob Chappell shortly thereafter. They were introduced by mutual friends at a dance. They would have fun dancing throughout their marriage. Bob and Pat were married in September 1956 and had their first son J. R. the next year. Jim came along a year and a half after this, and Billy came 10 years later.

Bob and Pat had a close circle of friends and many occasions were marked with singing and harmonizing around the Piano while Pat’s mother played and sometimes her brother Buddy whistled. These merrymaking sessions were joyous to watch as a child and would go late into the night.

Pat worked as a secretary for Republican Representatives at The State Capitol in Jefferson City during the 1970s. After moving to Blue Springs, Missouri, she obtained a license to sell real estate and enjoyed helping families find suitable homes. Many of the clients became her friends. She and Bob enjoyed playing tennis with their new friends in Blue Springs.  They enjoyed many trips to Las Vegas, attending shows and gambling. Bob and Pat were also avid Bridge players throughout their lives and Pat continued playing several times a month until quite recently.

Pat moved frequently as her husband Bob was promoted through the ranks of the Missouri Highway Department. The young family lived in Sullivan, Ellisville, Willow Springs, Jefferson City and finally Blue Springs where she lived for 46 years. Her three boys were the focus of her life and she encouraged them in their various endeavors, including Boy Scouts, tennis, and wrestling. She was a fierce promoter and protector of their interests. Pat was fun-loving and gregarious, maintaining friendships from grade school through the very end of her life. Although some of her oldest friends will not be able to attend, they are with us in spirit. She is preceded in death by her parents, her brother, her husband, John Robert Chappell, who she married in 1956 and her grandson Sam.

She is grieved by her three sons, eight grandchildren, three great grandchildren, family, friends, and neighbors.

A memorial service will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 2, 2022 at Meyers Funeral Chapel, 1600 W. Main St, Blue Springs, MO.  Inurnment will take place at the First United Methodist Church of Blue Springs Columbarium.  Memorial contributions may be made to the family to help Patricia’s house keeper’s family with unforeseen health issues.  Memories of Patricia and words of comfort for her family may be shared at meyersfuneralchapel.com.

In graciousness, the family would be honored to accept the beauty of flowers or the gifting of donations to Pat’s former house cleaners, Steph and Nancy, who have a sister with cancer and steep medical bills. (Checks can be made out to Pat Chappell.) The most important thing to us is to be surrounded by friends and family to share our memories and stories.