Chester F. Capps

A longtime resident and servant of Muskogee, Ok., Rev. Chester F. Capps, 94, has changed his address permanently, on Thursday December 14th, 2023, to his very long awaited Heavenly Home. His deepest pastoral desire was to see his Legacy of the Kingdom, to be directed and forwarded strongly to the days ahead of us. He wanted to see the face of his Savior, Jesus Christ, his wife, Jean, his family and church family members, who are there and waiting on him to enter. He is there. The years have brought wonderful memories to him, including having his son and daughters, and their families, including his church family in Christ. Rev. Capps worked 65 years as an ordained minister of the General Council of the Assembly of God. He pastored many churches in the area starting with “B” Street Assembly of God, 1957 to 60 with his brother, Rev. Charles Capps, Keefeton Assembly of God, 1963 to 67, and had started, the now, New Hope Assembly of God, in the back of the lot in a small tin building, in 1967. It had many leaks and a wood stove, but lives were changed. Almighty God, saved, healed, baptized and recruited many. Soon families would come but shortly this little church had a problem. It became too crowded and seating became unavailable. Plans began for a solution and very quickly a foundation and walls began to be constructed in front of the old tin church. The name was changed in 1970 to Southside Assembly of God. The congregation continued to grow. Many families came in and were saved and baptized. In 1978, the General Council of the Assemblies in Springfield, asked Capps to take over a degenerated and run-down West Side Assembly of God on Oklahoma Street, at that time, only had 3 members and no pastor. Capps, being called, agreed to take on the task. After much patching, painting, and repairing, it very soon was running over 200. Again, the church was in need of more room and the pastor and the board started looking for property to buy to provide a larger facility, which was located nearby at 201 N. 54th St. The name was changed from Westside Assembly to Family Worship Center, where God’s word was preached to many who entered the doors. They had many outreach ministries with nursing homes, hospitals, shut-in’s and the homeless. The couple, in 2005 left the church to (retire) but because Pastor Capps said that once the call was given by God, you never retire. He then helped Pastor Powell @ Elm Grove Assembly by preaching on Sunday nights. He, then, felt God wanted him to go back to his home ground, New Hope Assembly and then, became the Senior Pastor in 2016. Rev. Capps was born in Hulbert, OK to Levi and Seletha (Sells) Capps, who raised a big family of 9 children; 5 of the 9 were called by God into the ministry. Seven of his siblings have gone on to be with the Lord, along with his parents, Arvelee, Ray, Geraldine, Charles, Leon, Jerry, Alma. At the age of 13 he held a full-time job on a dairy farm for Mr. Howdeshell. God blessed him with his hands and he could fix or repair anything. When he was 15, working at Ketchum Lumber, he met a little gal that captured his heart, and was with her for 72 years, until she passed in March of 2019. Shortly after the birth of his children, the Capps family was involved in a serious head on crash, in Flagstaff, AZ, where he was covered by medics, with a sheet and presumed dead until a car load of Christians came along. They and his wife began to pray over him. His wife saw the sheet move, so the sheet was drawn back, and medics found a pulse on him. Shortly after that incident, he accepted the call from the Lord. Needless to say, through that time and now, he would rise up to be a soldier and warrior in the Army of the Lord. Pastor Capps and his wife, worked side by side raising a family, running a dairy farm and a couple of restaurants plus pastoring. In his later years, he professed that all that is around him, helps him, does for him, and is there for him, he would share the good news of his Lord and Savior. And that he did. He is survived by his son, David Capps and spouse; daughters: Diane Plunkett and spouse, Judy Chastain and spouse; brother, Larry Capps and spouse; grandchildren, Tessa, David, Jon, Karri, Jeffrey Dale, Karen, Jennifer, Gary Don, Jeffery Allen, Kara; great-grandchildren, Derrick, Kaitlyn, Chelsea, Hannah, Peyton, Madison C., Kaje Allen, Brittanie, Zachary, Ryan, Payton, Jackson, Madison P., Alivia, Luke, Callie, Hayley, Hazel; great-great grandchildren, McKenna, Marlee, Hadlee, Kailee Faye, Brixlee, and New Born - Hattie Bea Doke. The family will receive friends from 5-7PM, Thursday, December 21, 2023 at Cornerstone Funeral Home. Rev. Chester’s life will be celebrated at 1PM, Friday, December 22, 2023 at New Hope Assembly of God Church with Pastor Anthony Roe and Pastor John Overton officiating. Interment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery with David Fuller, Gary Don Plunkett, Jeffrey Fuller, Jeffery Plunkett, Roy Gene Parker, and Tyler Wardlow serving as pallbearers.

Chester F. Capps

September 16, 1929 - December 14, 2023