Obit: Christopher Chimel, 32, Scottville.

Christopher “Chris” Brian Chimel, age 32 of Scottville, passed away.

Chris was born on May 21, 1982 in Ludington, son of Pamela (Schramm) Chimel and the late Rick Chimel.  Chris attended Mason County Central High School and graduated with the class of 2000.  Chris worked at Solberg’s Marina in Manistee and most recently he worked at Whitehall Industries here in Ludington.

Chris was a loving, kind, thoughtful person always putting others first. Family was very important to Chris and he loved spending time with them, especially his mom who he said was his best friend.  On Labor Day weekends the two of them would go to the Mackinaw Bridge to participate in the bridge walk and have done this 5 times in the last 7 years.  He loved to be outdoors, and went on many survival camping trips with his friends. The weather was so cold on some of those trips we don’t know how they survived. From a young age Chris showed a talent for drawing and was a excellent artist. Chris was a very smart and talented man, he purchased a Porsche, tore it completely down to the frame and totally rebuilt it. He was so proud to hear it run the first time.

Chris had a love for music. Although he never had any lessons he was a serious “self-taught” guitarist who wrote and played his own music.  When Chris first began playing guitar, his best friend and longtime band mate Justin Bahr was right there playing along with him.  He also organized several bands over the past few years spending hours in the basement practicing with them. On many warm summer nights (some pretty cool nights too) if you were in the neighborhood you could often hear Chris strumming away on one of his many guitars.

Chris is survived by his mother, Pamela Marie Chimel of Ludington; brothers, Mike Chimel of Scottville and Gary (Pon) Hillier, Jr. of Holland Paton, NY; nephews, Gary Ray ”Trey”, Jonathon and Brian Hillier; and he will be greatly missed by all his aunts, uncles, cousins and especially his cat, Strat.

He is preceded in death by his father, Rick Chimel; and grandparents, Richard and Marilyn Schramm and Vern and Marion Chimel.

Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at 11:00AM on Friday November 7, 2014 at Path of Life Ministries in Ludington with Dr. Craig Nelson officiating.  The family will receive friends for visitation from 10:00AM until time of service.

Memorial contributions in memory of Chris may be directed to Path of Life Ministries.  Please feel free to share a photo or memory with Chris’s family at www.oakgrovefh.com.

The family has entrusted funeral arrangements with Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Center.