Katherine "Kathy" Joan Chappell's Obituary
Katherine Joan "Kathy" Chappell (Oehler), 91, of Salem, Oregon, passed away on May 26, 2024. Kathy was born on February 10, 1933, in La Crosse, Wisconsin. She was a devoted mother to her four children, Chris, Ellen, Lee, and Nate, whom she raised alone, after the untimely passing of her first husband, Jim. She lived most of her adult life in Lakewood, Washington, where she raised those children, and later in life, married her second husband, Tony Kodama, a long-time friend of the family.
Kathy was known for her generosity, care for others, and passion for the visual arts. She was a life-long devoted Catholic. She attended Marylhurst College, majoring in education and art. She dedicated her career to teaching art, leaving a lasting impact on her students at various high schools in Washington. She was the head of the Art Dept. at Bellarmine Prep in Tacoma toward the end of her career. Her love for pottery, watercolor painting, photography, stained glass, design, and bronze sculpture was evident to her students and through her active involvement with the Tacoma Arts and Crafts Association.
Kathy had a reserved and humble personality and enjoyed socializing in small groups. She was often the catalyst, organizer, and cook for extended family gatherings. She cherished her close female friends and was diligent in keeping in touch with her relatives and attending lovingly to her grandchildren. Kathy's love for family extended to supporting her children in pursuing their dreams in both seen and unseen ways, and she very generously supported and cared for them through their challenges as adults.
Kathy also loved to travel and explore other cultures and nature, whether it was an extended international trip or a local camping trip. She did so with both of her husbands and with her extended family and friends. In 1972, she and Jim took their four children out of school for half a year, loaded them into a station wagon and trailer, and went camping for 6 months from British Columbia to southern Mexico. This adventure imprinted itself deeply upon the lives of all her children, who went on to travel extensively themselves in off-the-beaten-path places, marry people from other cultures, and start travel-based businesses.
Kathy was loved and will be missed by her children, grandchildren (Katrina Browne and James, Amanda, Natalie and Avery Chappell), brother (Dan Oehler), sister (Mary Harris), son-in-law (Tony Cruz-Uribe), daughter-in-law (Angie Chappell), step-children (Sandro, Paul and Steve Kodama) and their children (Juliana, Elisa, Isabella and Julian Kodama), and all who knew her. She was preceded in death by her two husbands, Jim Chappell and Tony Kodama, father Elmer Oehler, mother Rachel Oehler (Broadhead) and stepmother Lois Oehler.
A memorial Catholic mass will be held at St. Francis Cabrini Parish, 5715 108th St. SW, Lakewood, WA, at 11 am on June 27, 2024. A reception will follow.
Kathy's legacy of kindness, creativity, and love for her family and friends will live on in the hearts of those she touched.
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