Jacqueline "Jackie" Chappell Ashley

Our “Angel on Earth” is now with the angels above and those who have gone before, to her deserved reward with, as she believed, the peace of Heaven.

She was born 84 years ago in West Virginia, the last of 14 children, who have all predeceased her. She weighed only three pounds “with clothes on,” and no toenails. It’s a miracle that she survived in that time before there was intense medical care for infants so small.

She married Mathias Preston Chappell in 1947, and welcomed into her heart his three children, Preston, Miriam and Matthias. She and M.P. had five children, DeMeris, Jean, Philip, Charmagne and Greg. Two more of M.P.’s children, Anita and Stan were also lovingly welcomed by her. After M.P. died in 2000, she became reacquainted with, then married her high school sweetheart Jack Ashley and added his four children to her heart: Jackie, Vickie, Debbie and Ronnie.

In our blended family, there are 21 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and 7 great-great-grandchildren. She had not had the pleasure of holding them all, as some of them are in other states. But she loved them, every one. And they loved her, loved going to MawMaw’s house.

She opened her heart and arms to everyone, in this big extended and blended family. And babies! She LOVED babies! She even volunteered in the nurseries at the churches she attended. All who knew her would agree that she was the sweetest person they knew. Throughout her life, the many friendships she developed remained true.

Holidays---oh, yes! Holidays and birthdays and any other reason for the family to gather, she was happy. The cooking (she always cooked in abundance,) the decorating, the shopping for gifts, and being surrounded by family, these are the things she lived for.

After Jack passed away in 2005, she returned to Florida from WV. She loved to travel and enjoyed many trips with her daughters, including a cruise, trips to the beach and mountains, and family reunions at Treasure Island, in North Carolina and West Virginia with all the kids and their families.

We are so grateful for the loving caregivers the last few months and, at the end, for VITAS Hospice.

She loved us all, without reservation, and we will have the knowledge of that love in our hearts forever.