Patricia Chapman

Patricia Louise Tucker Chapman died at home December 21, 2022.  Ninety-one years young, Pat leaves her beloved partner Mathew Duchek; her sister Mary Ann Hamley of Stanfield, OR; her four children Cindy (Paul) Barney of Boise, ID; Tena (Bob) Lokken of Scottsdale, AZ; Scott (Lori) Chapman of Lewiston, ID; Teresa (David) Ducharme of Renton, WA; and 9 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. 

Patty was born November 27, 1931 in a farmhouse on the road enroute to the hospital in Pendleton.  She was the daughter of Mildred and Dale Tucker (Holdman) and granddaughter of Ed and Rosa Tucker (Walla Walla) and Ernest and Lida Ross (Weston).  A ranch girl, she drove water and wheat truck before her feet could actually touch the pedals and learned early how to both sit a horse and cook for a crew.  Pat graduated from Hermiston High School in 1950 and briefly attended Oregon State University before marrying Donald W. Chapman.  As he continued his education, she worked in the college bookstore and began raising the first of her four children. 

During her first marriage, Pat lived in Corvallis, Forest Service quarters on the Rogue River, Army housing in Fort Leonard Wood, Elk Lake summer housing, and back in Pendleton while Don served in Austria.  They eventually settled in Moscow, Idaho where Pat was a full-time mother, cub scout den mother and part time student at the University of Idaho. Don and Pat traveled to Sweden and Scotland and the family enjoyed many camping and skiing expeditions and a summer living in Washington DC in 1968.

Short in stature but tall in personality, Pat returned to Pendleton in 1971 and began a long career in retail including ownership of the Vintage Shoppe, where she met the love of her life, Matt Duchek.  Matt shared Pat’s love of all things Roundup and Happy Canyon and Pat worked to support Matt’s service as Happy Canyon Director and President and Round Up Hall of Fame Director and President.

After closing the Vintage Shoppe, Pat went on to work at Bi-mart and Murphy House.  In retirement, she enjoyed volunteering at the Pendleton Children’s Museum and was committed to her work with young SMART readers.

Pat loved any kind of travel and live entertainment, with an emphasis on Broadway musicals.  A highlight was the R-up and HC Courts’ publicity tour to Washington DC including a visit to the White House and meeting the President.  Other international trips included the Cook Islands, Hong Kong, Spain, Ireland and Canada.   In addition, Pat was active in Altrusa, Kill Kare Club and Star Bottle Ski Club—first as a downhill and later as a cross country skier.  An avid reader, she often completed a book in a single day. Her morning coffee group-- or sometimes afternoon wine group-- were among her dearest friends and supporters.

Pat also loved entertaining on her front porch on summer evenings with a Manhattan in hand. She and Matt hosted many margarita-themed parties and the best post Round-up cold beer was always on ice for any and all rodeo fans who happened to wander by.  Her children will always remember her welcoming home, love of dancing, celebration of all holidays and her adoration of her grand babies.

The family cannot thank enough the dear friends who became family in helping care for Patty in the last six months, in particular Roberta Tullis, Jill Heffner, her caregiver Angela Boston and hospice nurse Richard Oja.  In lieu of flowers, donations to the Pendleton Children’s Museum or Vange John Memorial Hospice would be very much appreciated.

A celebration of Patty’s wonderful life will be held Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 11:00 am with lunch to follow at the Happy Canyon Room in the Pendleton Convention Center.