Jerry Chapman

Jerry Dane Chapman, 26, of Hillsboro passed away Wednesday, April 17, 2013 in West. Visitation will be 6:00-8:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, 2013, at Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors in Hillsboro. A private family memorial service will be held at a later date.

Jerry was born April 7, 1987 in Pampa, Texas to Martin Dane and Rhonda Renee (McCulloch) Chapman. He grew up in Pampa and moved to Hillsboro in 2003.

Jerry had bounced from various jobs and had discovered his passion which began when he became a member of Abbott Volunteer Firefighters and proceeded to work towards becoming an Emergency Medical Technician. He had passed his skills test and was near the end of his training.

To call Jerry a free spirit was an understatement. He loved all things Batman, Star Wars, Tolkien, and was an avid video gamer. An avid electronics enthusiast, he always wanted to be on the cutting edge of technology. He found a niche while working for 6 years at the Black-Eyed Pea restaurant in Hillsboro and was always a go-to guy in a crisis. He also had worked for Valero, Pizza Hut, Braums and Wal-Mart. A very generous person, he would give what he had to anyone in need.

Jerry was known for his passion for helping others, both those he knew and those he did not. His willing and giving spirit was a fit for the career he had chosen to pursue as a firefighter and EMT. He was always on call, whether as a firefighter or friend and died doing what he loved to do by serving and protecting others.

On Wednesday a call was received about a fire at the West Fertilizer Co. Jerry joined a team of first responders who fought the flames. He died when the explosion occurred.

There are many who loved Jerry and will have a piece of their heart missing because of his absence.

He was preceded in death by an uncle, Rodney McCulloch, who was also a volunteer firefighter with the Hoover Volunteer Firefighters.

Survivors include his parents, Dane and Rhonda Chapman of Hillsboro; maternal grandfather, Bryan McCulloch and wife, Joy, of Plainview; maternal grandmother, Charlotte McCulloch of Lubbock; paternal grandparents, Gerald and Janet Chapman of Amarillo; great-grandmother, Gladys Ragle of Lubbock; one sister, Shay Pohlmann and husband, Justin, of Nacogdoches; niece, Chloe Rose Pohlmann of Nacogdoches; and many, many friends and extended family.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, 16825 South Seton Ave. Building O, Emmitsburg, MD 21727.

Visitation

6:00 - 8:00 P.M. ,Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors in Hillsboro
2495 Corsicana Hwy. Hillsboro, TX 76645

Private Family Memorial Service