Micheal "Mitch" Napier

Micheal “Mitch” Napier, 65, a resident of Cleveland, passed away Monday, February 27, 2017 in a local hospital.  He was a member of Cleveland First Church of the Nazarene, where he was a Sunday School Teacher, Board Member, Trustee, Steward, and routinely served on mission trips. He became a Little Caesar’s franchisee in 1989, recently operating up to 7 locations in the greater Cleveland/Chattanooga and North Georgia area. He was a 3rd Degree Black belt in karate and had his pilot’s license.  He supported multiple veterans’ charities and was veteran of the Michigan Air National Guard and Army Reserve.  Mitch was a Hot Rod Power Tour enthusiast and enjoyed Mustang collectibles.  He was a loving husband, father, and fantastic grandfather.     

He was preceded in death by his parents, French James Napier and Elizabeth Napier and brothers, Paul and Edsel Napier

Survivors include his wife, Zanna Yoder Napier of Cleveland; children, Nathaniel James Napier (Kelly) and Danielle Elizabeth Ware (Shane) ,all of Cleveland;  grandchildren, Aidan, Christian, Elias and Avalon Napier;  Navy,  Nola and Carolyn Rose Ware; siblings, Pamela Lercher of Louisville, KY, Debra Wilson of Huntsville, AL, Terri Thompson of Huntington, WV, Sandy Bobeldyke of Grand Rapids, MI, Geary Napier of Kalamazoo, MI, Ed Napier of Pasadena, MD and Greg Napier of Cleveland and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 3, 2017 at Cleveland First Church of the Nazarene with Pastor B.J. Miller and Pastor David O’Neal officiating.  Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens with Geary Napier, Greg Napier, Ed Napier, Richard Harris, Bo Bandy and Rick Pope serving as pallbearers. 

The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 2, 2017 at Ralph Buckner Funeral Home.

The family requests that memorials be made to the Veterans Administration of Chattanooga or to the East Tennessee Church of the Nazarene Work & Witness.

We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Napier family guestbook at www.ralphbuckner.com.