Chapman Benefit Show @ The Duttons July 19 - 8:00pm

[Dutton]

The Carl Chapman Family Benefit Concert
Benefit Show for the Chapman Family

* July 19th, 2008 at 8:00pm
* At the Dutton Theater in Branson, MO - 3454 W 76 Country Blvd, Branson, MO 65616

The Chapman Family Story

Carl Robert Chapman was born in Mesa Arizona on July 21, 1946 to Herbert and Mildred Chapman. He grew up in Mesa on a cotton farm. In 1964 he met Martha Jean Lewis. They dated for about a year and decided to marry. They traveled to Kanab Utah and were wed on May 25, 1965. Martha was 15, Carl was 18.

Carl and Martha soon started a family. They raised 9 children. Carl always worked hard to provide for them. He worked as a logger, rancher, truck driver, and operated his own business building farm fence.


When the youngest of those 9 children got married and moved out, the Chapmans felt that something was missing. So when the opportunity came for them to host some Russian orphans, they were eager to help. They fell in love with those kids, and decided to adopt them. When it was all said and done, they had adopted 13 children from Russia and Ukraine.

Soon after completing the adoption process for the last few kids, Carl passed away. He died of a heart attack on June 20, 2008. Martha is left with 11 children still living at home, the youngest of which is 11.

Ryan Dimitry Chapman in orange shirt and ball cap On July 4, 2008, one of their children, Ryan age 14, was rushed to the emergency room. The doctors were unsure what was wrong. They tested Ryan and found that he had Pneumonia, Meningitis, and Sinusitis. He passed away at the tender age of 14 on July 9, 2008.

Ryan Dimitry Chapman was born August 17, 1993 in Vladivostok, Russia.
He and his two biological sisters, Nadia and Veeka, were adopted by Carl and Martha in March of 2003. Ryan's greatest dream of coming to America and having a real family had come true.

Ryan loved church, Scouting, The outdoors, and animals - especially chickens. His family lovingly called him "The Chicken Boy". He loved his family most of all.

Ryan was extremely creative and artistic. He could make art out of anything and also draw beautifully. Ryan made friends easily and was very loyal. He was obedient and always tried to do what was right.

Ryan Dimitry Chapman died due to complications of Sinusitis and Meningitis on July 9, 2008 in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of St. John's Hospital. He will be sorely missed.

The Chapman family needs your support at this benefit show. This is a great cause and a wonderful family. Please pass along the word to everyone you know and let's sell out the house on July 19!

The Duttons
3454 W Hwy 76 :: Branson, Missouri 65616
1-888-388-8661 :: 417-332-2772 :: fax: (417) 334-2314
info@theduttons.com

[ggh]

What's the ticket price on the 19th? I'm assuming, it's tickets + a love offering...

[bransoncutie]

Originally Posted by ggh

What's the ticket price on the 19th? I'm assuming, it's tickets + a love offering...

According to their facebook page, the ticket price is $15. There is a family pass for $40 for Mom, Dad and all children ages 18 and under living in the same household.

[Cheesecake]

I'm so sorry for their losses...and God Bless them all.
I pray the benefit is a HUGE success.

[Suselit]

What a wonderful opportunity to see a great Show while being able to help some good people on
Saturday, July 19th .

[chime]

Will the Duttons be joined by other local performers? This family sounds very worthy of support, they have been thru a lot.

[Suselit]

Springfield's CBS station has a news story on the Chapman's....with a video
http://ozarksfirst.com/content/fulltext/?cid=35311

Double Tragedy Binds Large Adoptive Family


Reported by: Emily Baucum
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008 @06:52am CST


(Ash Grove, MO) -- Tragedy struck one Ozarks family in late June when the father passed away without warning. And the family grieved once again last week after a son died just as suddenly.

It's an extraordinary story because it's no ordinary family.

The Chapmans had 9 kids of their own, and adopted 13 children from Russia and the Ukraine.

You'll see, it's a home that values family. So clearly, losing two beloved members of that family is a devastating blow.

As the Chapmans pray before breakfast, they pause to remember those who will never again break bread at this table.

"Carl and I were the best of friends," Martha Chapman says.

Martha and Carl Chapman were married for 43 years.

"We were going to die together. That was our plan. We were just going to die together. But that's not how it worked out," Martha says.

Carl passed away June 20 at age 61.

"He kissed me goodnight Thursday night, and I found him the next morning," Martha says. "He had a massive heart attack and I found him on the bathroom floor."

Carl made his living by building fences for local farms, all to support the large family he couldn't wait to come home to.

"I had the opportunity and privilege to work side-by-side with my father for two years, an opportunity which not many people have but one which I will cherish for the rest of my life," son Greg says.

The Ash Grove home felt empty after Carl's death, even though it hardly ever is.

After having 9 kids of their own, the Chapmans more than doubled their family by adopting 13 Russian children.

Carl left behind a happy home filled with kids and laughter.

"If I hadn't had these kids when my husband passed in my home I would have lost it," Martha says.

But just as life was getting back to normal, 14-year-old Ryan, one of the adopted children, was sent to the hospital and died last Wednesday of a blood clot related to meningitis.

"He loved his church, scouting, the outdoors," Greg says. "And he loved chickens. We lovingly called him the chicken boy."

The family says the pain of burying a father and son in just three weeks is immense.

But laughter is the best medicine.

"All of our brothers and sisters, we get together and have fun and we know that if something happens we can go to them and they can help. And it's just nice to have a big family," adopted daughter Svetlana Chapman says.

A big family that Carl loved, even though he and Martha had to learn to speak Russian around the house.

"Little bit! We've picked up about 300, 400 words," Martha says. "Kids laugh when I try to make sentences."

Carl was the breadwinner of the family so his kids are chipping in to make sure Martha keeps food on the table.

"It keeps us all up at night wondering, but we can do it with our family help," Greg says. "My father would want us to stay together."

And as she looks at Carl's picture, Martha is reminded of what he would tell her if he were still alive.

"You're a sturdy girl," Martha says. "I'll flick out my claws. I'll climb to the top and with all of our kids -- we'll make it."

It's a heartbreaking story but the Chapmans are working to pick up the pieces. Martha says knowing these adopted children need her is keeping her strong.

There is a way for the community to help the Chapmans support all these kids.

One of the Chapman's natural-born kids is married to a Dutton, as in The Duttons, the Branson performers.

The Duttons are holding a benefit concert in honor of the Chapmans this Saturday, July 19, at 8 p.m at The Dutton Family Theater.