Nashville songwriter Don Chapel, an Air Force veteran whose songs were recorded by an array of Country Music Hall of Fame members, died on Sunday after a battle with heart and lungs complications. He was 84.
Mr. Chapel, born Lloyd Franklin Amburgey, had songs cut by George Jones, Lynn Anderson, Jerry Lee Lewis, Charlie Louvin, Webb Pierce, Ray Price, Ernest Tubb, Conway Twitty and Tammy Wynette, whom he was briefly married to in the 1960s.
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Mr. Chapel’s biggest hit, “When the Grass Grows Over Me,” was cut by Jones, among others. With his songwriting career, Mr. Chapel started a proud family tradition of working in Nashville’s music industry. But his grandson, a music and technology entrepreneur, Michael Amburgey said the family would best remember Mr. Chapel for his support no matter their interest.
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“Obviously his strong points were in creativity and music, and while music played a huge role for him, he was a cornerstone for our family in supporting and fostering all of our endeavors – music, technology, sports, entrepreneurship, teaching,” Amburgey said. “He wanted to support whatever was interesting to us, whatever our passion was.”
Mr. Chapel was born into a musical family with sisters who sang and formed their own Gospel music group. After serving in the Korean War, as a staff sergeant in the Air Force, Mr. Chapel launched his career as a songwriter. His songs were recorded by more than 50 members of the Grand Ole Opry.
He was preceded into death by his parents, Robert and Gertrude Amburgey, and his siblings Irene Cosse, Opal Calongne, Bertha Woodruff and Conley Amburgey.
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Mr. Chapel is survived by his wife Virginia Eloise Amburgey, and his children Donna Cuno, Lloyd Amburgey, Gary Lehnertz, James Amburgey, Robbie Amburgey, Alison Garland and stepchildren Janet, Hazel, Terry, Gail. Mr. Chapel is also survived by his brother Glen Amburgey and grandchildren, Caren, Amy, Dan, Gina, Michael, Michelle, Tyler, Hayden, Maddie, Nicole, Matthew and Joshua.
A public visitation will take place at 5-6:45 p.m. on Friday with funeral services to follow at Madison Funeral Home. Instead of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation.
Reach Nate Rau at 615-259-8094 and on Twitter at @tnnaterau.
Source: https://t-tees.com
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