Charles W. Chapman

Nationally renowned Pawnee artist Charles W. Chapman “Charlie” peacefully departed this life in his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born on November 29, 1944, in Pawnee, Oklahoma, to tribal leader Henry Chapman and Lonie Tatum Chapman.

He was a member of the Kitkehahki Band of the Pawnee Nation. Charlie was a prominent Pawnee Indian artist and historian.

Charlie was born the ninth of 11 siblings, having five brothers, Basil, Thomas, Earl, Lloyd “Blackie”, Robert, and five sisters, Daisy, Wanda, Alice, Millie, and Linda. He was raised the old Pawnee ways on the original Chapman home place out west, attending Pawnee Indian Boarding School until 4th grade.

His artistic talent began to show itself in his childhood drawings during that time. Following in the footsteps of his five brothers, after graduating from Pawnee High School where he had excelled in athletics, he enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving In Vietnam. Upon his return he married Becky Rector and they had one daughter, Paula. He then met and married the true love of his life, Judith Darlene Crawford Chapman and of this union one daughter was born, Carmen Darlene Chapman.

After his return from a tour of duty in Vietnam, Charlie turned to art full-time in 1982. Before that he was a carpenter by trade, rode bulls and roped, and raised quarter horses. He was known for his artistic depictions of Pawnee tribal culture and life through extensive research into his Pawnee heritage and he made sure he produced historically accurate art. His love of history is rooted in the work his father did to help translate Pawnee lifestyles and legends into text for two noted Indian researchers. Those stories would have been lost without their work. He was commissioned to design a book cover for a reprint of “The Lost Universe: Pawnee Life and Culture”, in which his father served as translator and cultural consultant. His paintings and prints are now in collections and galleries worldwide. During the past three decades, his work has received top honors at numerous juried art shows across the nation and exhibited at the White House and the Oklahoma State Capital.

Charlie is survived by his daughter, Paula Chapman of Cleveland. He leaves behind his cherished sisters, Alice Chapman Wood of Stillwater; Millie Chapman of Pawnee; Linda Chapman Jestes and her husband, Ronnie of Pawnee; sister-in-law, Carole Chapman of Pawnee; his precious grandchildren, Judy Darlene Adams and brother, Michael Wayne Pogue; step-grandson, Jacob Lee Pogue; and (Paula’s children) Cassandra, Cameron, Lexis, Brooklyn, and Lacy; plus a host of Chapman nieces, nephews, and his relatives from the StoneRoad and Eaves families. He deeply treasured his relationships with his whole family whom all adored him.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Judy Darlene Crawford Chapman; daughter, Carmen Darlene Chapman Pogue; two sisters, Daisy Miller, Wanda Chapman; five brothers, Basil, Thomas, Earl, Lloyd, Robert; and his parents, Henry and Lonie (Tatum) Chapman.

The funeral service was held Tuesday, November 21, 2017, 1:00 p.m., at the Pawnee First Baptist Church. Burial followed at the Pawnee South Indian Cemetery and a traditional feast was held at the Pawnee Nation RoamChief Event Center following the burial. Funeral arrangements were handled by Poteet Funeral Home in Pawnee.