Serving Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood Counties
Shirley J. (Damschroder) Chappell, 85, of Ottawa Lake, Michigan, passed away peacefully on July 15, 2025, at Ebeid Hospice, in Sylvania, Ohio, with family at her side. The daughter of Sanford and Edna (Hageman) Damschroder of Graytown, Ohio, she was born on May 15, 1940.
Shirley was a 1958 graduate of Elmore High School. Upon graduation, she moved to New York City to begin adventures outside of her farming community, and returned home in 1962 to settle into life. She met the love of her life, Tommy Chappell and they married on September 13, 1970. They celebrated their 50th year of love and marriage just months before Tommy passed with Shirley at his side holding his hand.
Shirley was a woman of God, and her faith ran deep. She never knew a stranger and made friends easily. She was a country girl at heart growing up on the family farm, she loved regaling her childhood stories of working the fields, raising the many animals and tending the gardens. Her family meant the world to her, and she made sure all were welcomed when anyone came into her home. She doted on her grandsons, teaching them life skills from her experiences. The grandsons all learned to cook in her kitchen with William’s Pineapple Upside down cake, Connor’s Lemon Meringue Pie and Ross’s Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Upon her husband’s retirement, they traveled to many places, one of which was a yearly destination to Ohio’s Amish area. They enjoyed the laid-back atmosphere where they could relax and take in the peacefulness around them. We know Shirley has taken the seat her husband told her he’d save her; and collected the hug and kiss promised to her by her son when she arrived in heaven. Shirley leaves a legacy of a life well lived through love, service and faith and will be forever remembered by those fortunate enough to have known her. She was loved by so many and will be greatly missed.
Shirley is survived by her daughter, Wanda Crawford, 2 stepdaughters, her grandsons, William Dallas Chappell, Connor Devon Crawford and Ross Michael Chappell, along with 5 step-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Martin Hickerson; sister-in-law, Betty Reeves; nieces and nephews; and her companion dog, Fancy. She was preceded in death by her husband Tommy Dallas, son, William Michael Chappell; sister, Dolores Damschroder; in-laws, Gene and Margie Fitzgerald, Alice Bradford, Charlotte Hickerson, Frank and Sarah Golatka and James Chappell.
Visitation will be on Friday, July 25, 2025, at Reeb Funeral Home, Sylvania, Ohio from 3:00 pm to 8:00 p.m. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Michael Lutheran Church, 5790 W. Temperance Rd, Ottawa Lake, Michigan. The burial will be at 1:30 p.m. at Elliston Cemetery, Elliston, Ohio. The family requests any contributions be made to St. Michael Lutheran Church or Northwest Ohio Hospice Center in Sylvania.
