Kathleen Arian Chapman

1951 – 2024

Kathleen Arian Chapman was born in Highland Park CA. on June 18th 1951.

Kathleen’s family moved to La Canada, CA shortly after her birth where she remained throughout her childhood and early adulthood. Her brother John remembers how as a child, Kathleen would change her name to various spellings and nick names. Her friends and family from her childhood know her as Kathy. After graduation she moved to Santa Barbara, CA and became known as “Kate”. It was here that Kate met the love of her life, Mark Chapman. They married on October 31, 1992 and she helped raise Mark’s two children, Colin and Nathan.

Her great passion was horses. From an early age she rode and helped exercise friend’s horses, until she was able to buy her own. Her Appaloosa “Holly” was boarded in Hope Ranch where Kate rode with her mother-in-law, Cornelia Chapman, also a well-loved horse fanatic.

Kate inherited her knack for cooking from her Polish mother Mary who was a fabulous cook.
This was a satisfying creative outlet for Kate, and of course Mark and friends greatly appreciated her culinary skills. Kate also had a creative stint making decorative pillows and selling them at the weekly Santa Barbara Arts and Crafts Show on Cabrillo Blvd.

She and Mark were Elton John groupies, and they traveled to attend many of his live concerts. She had a green thumb, and their house was always surrounded by colorful plants. Kate had a great sense of humor and an infectious laugh. She adored her five grandchildren and had a deep connection with her beloved dog “Louie”. Kate could be found any given weekend with Louie at the Douglas Family Preserve, where her and Louie were easily recognized in the local community.

A celebration of life will be held for Kate on Friday April 19th at from 3pm-6pm at La Mesa Park in Santa Barbara.