Joan Rosalita Chafe

Joan Rosalita (Murray) Chafe was a beloved lady, devoted mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, friend and colleague. She touched the lives of many with her kindness, her sacrifice, her devotion and unwavering love. She was principled and unafraid to follow her intuition. She was born in her grandmother’s house on April 17, 1945, in a hollow in the hills of Burning Fork, Kentucky to Edna Mae Patrick and Chester Murray, both who preceded her in death. She was surrounded by family when she passed on July 23, 2025 after a short battle with gall bladder cancer. In 1948, her mother left with her from Ohio, headed to California after the birth of her brother Bill. She started life in California in Venice. It was in Venice, CA where her mother met her future husband, Nick Besser. They stayed in Manhattan Beach for a while then moved to Lawndale, CA in 1951. Her brother Patrick was born in 1951. She was baptized on February 1, 1959 at the First Christian Lutheran Church in Manhattan Beach, CA. Joan attended Juan Cabrillo and Peter Burnett Elementary Schools in Hawthorne, CA. She graduated junior high School from Richard Henry Dana Junior High School, also in Hawthorne. She attended Lawndale High School where she was the drill team captain and among the first 4-year graduating class. She graduated from Lawndale High School on June 13, 1963. Joan left home during high school as a young teenager and got her own apartment, car (a 51 Dodge) and a job. She learned to take care of herself at a very early age. This accomplishment would serve her well throughout her life and the life of her daughter. While in High School, she won a scholarship to attend and later graduate from the South Bay Women’s Business College. While she was attending college, she worked as a switchboard operator at Mattel Toys in Hawthorne, CA. Joan also attended El Camino College and California State University, Northridge during her career.

Joan married Frank Louis Chafe on April 25, 1964 in Las Vegas, Nevada. They had met in late 1963 while she was working at Revere Furniture in Hawthorne. Frank had come into Revere seeking a job where she was the receptionist who gave him his job application. She told Laura that all the girls who had seen him walk into the business were ogling over him. However, it was only Joan that he asked out. On December 2, 1964, Joan and Frank became the proud parents of their daughter Laura Lynn Chafe. The couple purchased a house in Carson, CA and raised Laura there for a while. Mom had moved on from her 1951 Dodge to a 1956 turquoise and white Chevy. They always had music playing while they lived in Carson. Whether it was in the car or in the house, music was a big part of their lives. They had a huge stereo system in the living room and an equally huge vinyl record collection to match. Frank had an 8-track tape player in the car and he played the tapes constantly. All this music was a very large influence on their daughter Laura. On July 31, 1969, Joan and Frank attended an Elvis Concert at the International Hotel in Las Vegas. It was Elvis’ return to live performances after an 8-year hiatus. She loved Elvis and this love figured prominently in hers and Laura’s lives. She would go onto to attend many Elvis concerts throughout her life at various locations until he passed away. Laura accompanied her on several of those occasions including one at the Las Vegas Hilton in 1975. On September 12, 1969, the couple took Joan’s brother Pat and Laura to a Three Dog Night Concert at the Inglewood Forum. That night figured prominently in the life of Laura, leading to her playing the drums.

Life was good there in Carson for a while. After about five years, Joan and Frank moved to an apartment in Hawthorne. In August of 1972, Joan and Frank Chafe were divorced. Joan never remarried and she retained the Chafe surname for the rest of her life. Frank had come from a very large family and she also remained a beloved member of his family. Joan continued to raise Laura as a single mom. She worked as an executive secretary for Ford, the Aerospace Corporation and Toyota. After Aerospace, in 1977, she began working at Hughes Aircraft Company in El Segundo. She served in several capacities while at Hughes including Senior Administrative Secretary, Financial Analyst and Administrative Assistant. She retired from Hughes Aircraft Company in 1999. While she always had a good job with benefits, it was hard for her sometimes to make ends meet. She gave Laura the most normal childhood she could with what she had. She sacrificed and struggled but she always made sure that Laura had a nice place to live, was dressed nice for school, did her homework, and participated in Indian Maidens, Girl Scouts and YMCA Summer Camp. She made it so that Laura never even knew her struggles until she was older. For a time, she had a second job selling Princess House crystal for some extra income. Joan and Laura continued to live almost as sisters, enjoying Disneyland and Dodger Games, visiting family, going shopping, having fun in Las Vegas, going to movies and attending concerts together throughout their lives. They loved going to see the likes of Neil Diamond, the Moody Blues, the Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart and many more. Joan was also a big fan of Rod Stewart and Freddie Mercury of Queen. However, she never got to see Queen perform a live show. In 1975, Joan took Laura on a cross-country vacation. She drove her 1971 Mustang through many states including Nevada to see Elvis perform, Kentucky to visit her relatives and Graceland to see Elvis’ home, then back to California.

Joan was always there to be Laura’s confidant, cheerleader and supporter. If anyone ever tried to stop Laura or even get in her way, Joan was there to deal with them. Laura graduated college with an associates, then bachelor’s degrees and went on to have a very successful career in the fire and law enforcement fields. Joan had raised Laura to be strong and to be able to take on the world head-on. Laura was able to deal with obstacles as they came along because of the morals and values Joan had instilled while raising her. Joan remained a huge part of Laura’s life for the rest of hers. Laura married John Mapes in 1996. Joan did so much to make the wedding happen. She worked tirelessly with the bridesmaids on their dresses, jewelry and hairdos. She helped in planning the catering and flowers, made all the lists, designed and made the wedding favors, got the balloons, secured a bartender, checked all the boxes and ultimately made the wedding day perfect for Laura & John. Laura chose to have Joan walk her down the aisle, along with Frank because Joan had been such a big part of Laura’s life and success. Joan moved to Tucson, AZ in 1999 to be close to her brother Patrick and his wife Debbie. In 2001, Joan became an extremely proud grandmother to Kevin Alan Mapes, Laura & Johns’ son. She then moved to the Bay Area in 2001 when Kevin was born to help look after him. Joan spent much of her time with her grandson while John & Laura worked.

She watched him and took care of him because a regular babysitter just would not do. She attended all of his school programs and shows; Halloween parades, birthday parties at home and school and helped John & Laura make sure the schools provided Kevin everything he needed to be successful.

Kevin loved his grandma so much; he drew pictures to tell her and told her often how much he loved her. Grandma Joan gushed over Kevin. She became an expert in Power Rangers and Spongebob Squarepants. Those were two of Kevin’s passions. She received text messages from Kevin of complete Power Rangers song lyrics that he typed from memory. She spoiled him on his birthdays and holidays. There is nothing she wouldn’t have done for him. This went on until Kevin was 16 years old when he passed away from SUDEP. Joan was devastated, as was John & Laura for the loss of Kevin. She never fully recovered from losing him; as a large part of her died with him. She kept Kevin’s’ memory alive in every possible way she could on social media, bragging to everyone about him, caring for his gravesite, memorials and photos all over her house and talking about him, saying his name every. single. day.

In 2017, John & Laura moved to Prescott, AZ and Joan moved back to Tucson to be near Pat. She continued to care for now teenage Kevin if John & Laura went away anywhere. In 2022, Joan moved to Prescott Valley, AZ due to her rising costs of living and to be near Laura & John. Joan, Laura and John enjoyed attending even more concerts together, caring for Kevin’s’ grave and having many dinners together. Sometimes we cooked dinner, other times, we went out. Mom always cooked Thanksgiving dinner. She kept trying to pass that torch onto Laura, but was never successful. We often made tacos, stews and breakfasts to share together. We went to special mother’s day brunches and always celebrated each others’ birthdays with fancy dinners at Essence Kitchen with cake & ice cream.

Joan is survived by her daughter Laura, son-in-law John Mapes, her brother Patrick Besser and sister-in-law Debbie Besser. Joan also maintained a friendly relationship with her ex-husband Frank. She is also survived by the Chafe family who loves her and will always remember her as a great lady and cherished family member. Joan was preceded in death by her sister, Linda Smith and her brother Bill Besser. Joan is also survived by Linda’s kids; nephews Sean, Kevin and Brett Smith and their families. Joan had a cousin who preceded her in death, Doug Roberts who lived in Kentucky. Joan also had two additional “daughters” who were close friends to Laura in High school and beyond. Peggy Tsunoda and Patricia Rollings were like daughters to Joan and they called her “mom 2.” Peggy was able to be with Joan before she passed to talk to her and be by her side. Joan leaves behind many friends and cherished former colleagues who were dear to her.

Our family wishes to express their sincere appreciation and heartfelt gratitude for all the support, Prayers, posts, comments, visits, flowers, texts, emails and expressions of kindness during this very difficult time of grief and loss of our beloved Joan (mom). We would also like to thank the folks at the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church for their kindness and assistance.

Burial

All are welcome to join the family for a short burial ceremony at Mountain View Cemetery, 1051 Willow Creek Rd. in Prescott immediately following the service.

Reception

Please join the family for a luncheon reception at The Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church Fellowship hall immediately following the gravesite service to remember and celebrate.