Frank Max Chapman passed away June 10, 2007, in Taylorsville, Utah. Max was born April 8, 1920, to Frank B. and Rita Fern Sage Chapman in Garfield, Utah. By his own account, he spent much of his childhood running nude through Coon Canyon and swimming in dirty canals with dead animals. He graduated from Cyprus High School in 1938, and married his high school sweetheart, Phyllis Cannon, on November 18, 1940. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Jordan River Temple. He was an active member of the LDS Church. During World War II, Max proudly served his country as a Machinist's Mate, 3rd Class, aboard the attack cargo ship USS Alcyone. During his service, the Alcyone was assigned with provisioning the warships of the Fast Carrier Task Force off the Japanese islands. Max always said the best part of being in the Navy was the quality of the fresh-baked pastries aboard the Alcyone. He often volunteered to stay aboard while docked, so he could raid the ship's ice cream freezer while the rest of the crew took liberty. Max worked as a pipefitter and pipefitter foreman for Kennecott Copper, and taught pipefitting classes at Utah Tech. After his retirement in 1982, he enjoyed gardening and tending his West Valley yard and earned the city's "Most Beautiful Yard" award in 1996. Max was a talented and prolific oil painter, giving many paintings to his family and friends. Max is survived by his wife, Phyllis; a son, Max Cannon Chapman; and two daughters, Kathleen (Lee) Wareham, and Jan (Gordon) Wood; 12 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Donna (George) Duckworth, and Jeanne (John) Barber; and a brother, Darrell S. Chapman (Marilyn). He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant grandson, Gordon Tran Wood, whom he enjoyed visiting with in his dreams. A more noble and modest man never lived. Goodnight, Man of Steel. Services will be held Friday, June 15, 2007, 12:00 noon at McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 South Redwood Road. A viewing will be Thursday from 6-8 p.m. and 11-11:45 a.m. on Friday prior to services. Interment, Valley View Memorial Park.



Published in the Deseret News on 6/13/2007.