Christopher Chastain

Zebo, Insane, Chris - regardless of the name he was known by, he left his mark on everyone he met. When you think of him, you cannot help but smile. Quiet and reflective at home, his public persona was larger than life. He was indisputably, the loudest, wildest, most entertaining, hardest working person in every arena. He knew no boundaries in his quest to see that his friends and family were happy, even in the midst of his own personal struggles. Anyone who knew Chris, knew that he would help anyone in need. He walked beside a coworker as he went through the loss of his child. He opened his home to a friend who was struggling to find his way in life, until he was able to stand on his own.

He cared for his elderly parents and grandparents for many years, eventually moving his grandmother to live with his family at 95 years old. His wife and children recall mornings of waking up to a big breakfast, just because. At every gathering, he always brought cheesecakes from his own recipe that he had perfected over the years. He loved to cook and the more people he had to cook for, the more he enjoyed it. His family also remembers that he thought someone else should clean the kitchen afterward. Everyone in his life knew they were important to him. His love for others was genuine and unconditional. He spent several years in the Navy, bringing home many stories of traveling the world and finding dojos to visit in every port. He and another sailor would walk around each town looking for a place to train. He trained as a guest in many countries, but his favorite story is the time he trained in the Philippines. The dojo was very small and old. He and his friend went into the dojo and started kicking the heavy bags and trying to outdo each other. At some point, a couple of heavy bags became disconnected from the ceiling and debris was lying on the dojo floor.

One thing led to another and he and his friend paid for and remodeled a dojo that day. He earned his black belt in two separate martial arts disciplines during his military time in the 1980's, and earned a third black belt in 1995. He was always learning. He was a gentle giant who shared his passion for martial arts with anyone who would listen. He had a special connection with teaching children - a calling. He began reading instructional karate books as a preteen and entered his first karate tournament at 12 years old, when he convinced his grandfather he didn't need more training because he had taught himself. His grandfather gave him a pair of his old "overalls" and he stuffed them and hung them from a tree as a heavy bag. He kicked the heavy bag and the tree so much, there was no bark on the tree for many years. This early interest in karate, sparked his enthusiasm for teaching children. He was patient, encouraging, and animated - celebrating every accomplishment or improvement with his own special blend of words. "There you go!" "Let's get it!" "Wooooo" "That's what I'm talking bout!" "All day long, baby. All day long!" "Hard work pays off!" But everyone's favorite line was reserved for the moments when he would enter the ring to fight. "This is my house, and I came to fight!" His teammates would get excited, the crowd would cheer, and everyone would feel the energy.

In Italy, during the team USA introductions, Chris was encouraged by his coach to get the introductions going. As he spoke, teams from other countries could hear his loud booming voice throughout the hallways. By the time he was finished introducing himself as "Insane" Chastain, everyone in the building had wondered over to see what was happening. As he noticed the competitors from other countries, he became louder and more energetic. "That's right, I'm coming for you. You better come watch. Cause this is my house and I came to fight!" Team USA was energized, and each competitor after him was motivated to turn up the volume and the energy on their own introduction. At almost 40 years old, his job ended, when his employer was no longer open for business. In order to provide for his family, he started over in a new career and eventually became a power lineman at Georgia Power. Any part of his identity that wasn't wrapped up in his passion for martial arts, was wrapped up in his passion for keeping the lights on.

There were many times he returned home from work talking about crazy things he did at work because no one else wanted to do it. He told of his coworkers paddling him in a boat after a flood so he could climb a pole surrounded by water. He would sometimes demonstrate how he would hang from a pole in some awkward position just to reach the problem he needed to fix. In elementary school, his daughter was given an assignment to write about her hero. She chose to write about her dad. She told of all the sacrifices he made and how he would work while he was tired, cold, and hungry, just to help other families to have power so they wouldn't be cold and hungry. When he was getting ready to work overtime for storm duty or power outages that were going to require long hours, he would post a picture of his truck or himself on Facebook and say "Let's do this." Even as he moved from one city to another, he never wanted to let go of the people he left behind. His family met most of the friends he had made during his entire lifetime.

Family and friend connections that he made in one era of his life, continued and intertwined with the next group of people that became a part of his world. The greatest joy of his life was watching his own children compete in karate. It moved him to tears every time he saw them and he never stopped talking about their accomplishments. As we remember Chris, we should challenge ourselves and each other to live out loud. Live each moment with insane passion and excitement and never take it for granted. Hold each other close and stay connected and remember that we are never promised tomorrow. But most of all remember to fight for each other and help each other through struggles with a hand up. "Let's get it!"

Friday, January 06, 2017
10:00 AM - 04:00 PM

McDonald and Son Funeral Home
150 Sawnee Drive
Cumming, GA 30040

Friday, January 06, 2017
04:00 PM

McDonald and Son Chapel
150 Sawnee Drive
Cumming, GA 30040

Sunday, January 08, 2017
02:00 PM

Sawnee View Memorial Gardens
1390 Dahlonega Street
Cumming, GA 30040