Bessie Chapman

Bessie passed away peacefully in her sleep on October 31, 2025. She was born on July 9, 1937, to Eikichi and Ura Urata Kawaguchi, the youngest of ten.

She was known for her kindness, generosity and sense of humor. Her niece’s fondest memories of her are going on shopping sprees and going out to get noodles every weekend as payment for cleaning her apartment while she napped.

Bessie was a fashionista in her twenties and thirties, with a closet full of clothes and shoes in every color that you could imagine. Hair was also a priority to her. She would get her hair done every Saturday, experimenting with many styles and colors. You couldn’t miss Bessie driving around in her blue Camaro with white racing stripes. She worked at HAFB as a secretary and parttime as a waitress at Layton Noodle Parlor. Bessie also loved her bowling league in those days.

She married Kayle “Cook” Chapman in 1973 and had one child, Tony. She was a very doting mom, the kind of mom who cooked breakfast every morning and never missed any of Tony’s games. During those years she worked as a reading tutor at Sunset Elementary School.

Bessie was always working her mind by filling up crossword puzzle books and staying fit by taking walks with Cook.

Above all, being a grandma was her passion. Her two granddaughters were her entire world. She attended as many dance recitals and competitions as she could and enjoyed taking them out to sushi and shopping. The love of clothes and shoes was definitely passed down to her granddaughters.

Bessie had a huge heart and deeply loved her entire family, friends, and last but not least, her dogs, Tiki, Joey, Sammie and Brutus.

Bessie is survived by her son, Tony; daughter-in-law, Amy; granddaughters, Noelle and Ava; and many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her parents; one sister; and eight brothers.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, November 8, 2025, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the Community Center at Lindquist’s Office Building, 3434 Washington Blvd.

A graveside services will be held on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Lindquist’s Washington Heights Memorial Park, 4500 Washington Blvd.