BETHEL — The son of a recently deceased local business owner and musician will host a community memorial service for his father to honor and celebrate his life.

The service for Sam Chapman, 60, of Bethel will be held 2 p.m. Sunday at the Bethel Inn Conference Center, according to Brady Chapman, son of Sam Chapman.

Sam Chapman, who owned Sam Chapman’s Tree Services on Mason Street, died June 30 in what police described as “a freak accident” when a metal shield on his wood chipper came off while he was cleaning it and struck him in the chest.

Chapman said June 30 was “the second time that his father had died.”

“When he was 27 years old, he technically died in a parachuting accident,” Chapman explained. “He landed in the Androscoggin River and had to be resuscitated. He told me that was one of the best feelings, not because he died, but because he didn’t fear death after that. That’s not to say he was reckless, but he just didn’t have that fear.

“He made me promise when I was 12 that I would throw a party for him when he died, and that’s what I’m hoping to do,” Chapman added.

He said his father always told him that he didn’t want the “traditional funeral,” with people “sitting all somber.”

“He said he wanted people to celebrate and honor his life and remember the stories they shared,” Chapman said. “I know there’s thousands of Sammy Chapman stories out there, and I’m hoping that by opening up the mic to his family and friends, we can hear about how he touched people’s lives.”

Though it has been a little more than two weeks since Sam Chapman passed away, his son said people “are continuing to come out of the woodwork to offer their condolences.

“My dad was a wicked character, and I have people I’ve never heard of coming up to me and telling me stories about him,” Chapman said. “I’m hoping to hear more of that at the service.”

Chapman said that after the service, live music will be performed by his father’s old friends, including Jewel Clark, Paul Farrar and Andy Cummings.

Refreshments will also be available.

mdaigle@sunjournal.com