Greg W. E. Chamberlain was born in Rock Port, Missouri on July 21, 1929, the only child of George W.E. and Hazel M. (Wheeler) Chamberlain. Greg graduated from Rock Port High School in 1947 and then attended Tarkio College.
He entered the U.S. Navy in 1948 and was discharged in 1950. While in the service, he married Betty R. Smith on April 12, 1950. They became parents of six children.
Greg graduated from Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science in 1966, and he and Betty opened Chamberlain Funeral Home & Monuments in Rock Port that year. They purchased the funeral home in Oregon, Missouri in 1986, and added Mound City in 1995. Greg took yearly continuing education courses at Iowa Western College and continued to work until age 85.
He served as president of the Missouri Funeral Directors Association in 1992-1993 and was a multi-year state officer. He was a long time member of the MFDA Board of Directors, and served on their Emergency Preparedness, Education, and Legislation committees. Greg also served as chairman of the National Funeral Directors Association Education Committee in 1991. He held an active funeral director/embalmer license for 50 years. In the early years of funeral business he provided ambulance service for the Rock Port community.
Greg also served as Atchison County Presiding Commissioner and Chief Juvenile Officer for the 4th Judicial District of Missouri, and served on the Rock Port R-II School Board and the Missouri School Board Association Board of Directors.
On October 7, 2016, at the age of 87, Greg passed away at his home after attending a high school football game. He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son; and son, Greg II “G” Chamberlain.
Survivors include his wife, Betty, of their home; sons and daughters-in-law, Eric and Lynn, Rock Port, LTC Scott (US Army Ret.) and his wife Irene, Dumfries, Virginia, and Chris (Melissa Masonbrink), Rock Port; daughter and favorite son-in-law, Marcy and Mark McMahon, Rock Port; grandchildren, Meghan Chamberlain, Aubrey (Cory) Scamman, Hillary (Seth) Shippy, Dr. Brett (Chasyn) Chamberlain, Donald (Stephanie) Parsons, Michael (Constance) Chamberlain, Phillip (Serena) Roberson, Chase Chamberlain (Kori Sheldon), Catyn Chamberlain, Lydia Masonbrink, Stephanie Richter (Montana Flores), Jared (Emily) McMahon, Jalainey (Justin) Sleeth, Journey, Jayden and Jacie McMahon, and Tyler and Anthony; great grandchildren, Cole, Kalyn and Tate Scamman, Cora, Mack and Brock Shippy, Lailah and Logan Roberson, Rylee, Chloe and Everly Sleeth, Nora Meyerkorth, and Cash and Brynlee Flores; daughter-in-law, Gail Chamberlain (Stephen Mills); brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; nieces and nephews; and long time employee and friend, Jerry Meyer, Oregon, Missouri.
Greg was a member of the Ralph Greer American Legion, Post 49, the United Methodist Church, and the Masonic Lodge.
Always placing family first, Greg followed and supported his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Greg also cared for, and cared about, the families in the communities he served.
Family visitations will be held in our funeral homes from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Thursday in Oregon, and from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm Friday in Mound City (as he wouldn’t want to interfere with the Rock Port vs. Mound City football game!!)
Funeral services will be held Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at the Memorial Building in Rock Port, with visitation beginning at 10:00 am. Interment with military rites will be held at Greenhill Cemetery, Rock Port.
In Greg’s honor, memorials may be directed to any local cemetery or to your favorite high school’s athletic program, or the Ralph Greer American Legion Post #49, in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be sent to www.chamberlainfuneral.com.
Special thanks to the office of Dr. Aron Burke, FNP Melissa Masonbrink, the staff of Community Hospital, Stoner Drug and Rogers Pharmacy for all the care they have provided.
The Chamberlain family wishes to express our sincere gratitude to Jim Schooler of Schooler Funeral Home, and the entire staff of Heaton-Bowman-Smith Chapel, St. Joseph for their assistance with these services.