Our Daughter, Chelsea Nicole Templeman, passed away too soon. At the time of her death, she was doing what she loved to do the most, with people she cared about deeply and who cared deeply about her. She was a person who lived life to its fullest. Never afraid of what lie ahead and always ready for the challenges that life offered her. Once one adventure was finished, she was looking for the next one. She shared of herself freely, looking out for those she knew and helping whoever she could. She embraced life, making new friends everywhere she went, creating lasting memories.
After graduating High School, she set her course to travel and work wherever her dreams and her little blue van would take her. Astoria, Glacier National Park, the Tetons, Mt. Rainer National Park, Nevada, and finally Wyoming, where we believe she found the love and happiness she richly deserved in a fine man, David Fernandez.
As a family, we spent summer vacations in Idaho. We spent hours swimming in “The Lake”, playing Mad Libs, hours of Yahtzee, hikes through the forest, and the best huckleberry milkshakes.
Chelsea liked to create beauty, working in mosaics, colored pencil, painting, collage scrapbooking, and crafting handmade cards. She enjoyed playing both the flute and ukulele. She took pride in her culinary skills and knowledge she had acquired over the years and enjoyed creating fantastically delicious meals for friends and family. She loved the outdoors. Camping, swimming in mountain lakes and just absorbing the nature and beauty that surrounded her on her many trips. And of course, Chelsea loved to hike all new trails in a quest for new beauty and discoveries. Always fearless in all her endeavors. A home on wheels, a tank of gas, a few beers, a little yoga, “AAHHH…That’s the life!”. There was no place she would not go. Being quite the photographer, there were no lengths that Chelsea wouldn’t go through to get the best image of her life’s quests. Always eager to share her experiences with friends and family.
Daughter, sister, girlfriend, a true-friend, self-confident, dependable, empathetic, fearless, humorous, gregarious, a magnet of love and life and laughter, a brilliantly bright light of hope and happiness in an often-dark world, a soul who cared for and was cared about by those who knew her and loved her. Chelsea always looked on the bright side, looking forward to the next day. She had sparkly blue eyes and the most beautiful smile that lit up her face and a loving heart.
Our hearts ache to be with her again. She will be missed by all. Chelsea, our angel, truly has reached the top of the mountain.
This is who Chelsea is, was and will always be.
To my darling sister Chelsea,
I still remember the day you were born, even 28 years later. Dad trying to help Mom get to the hospital before the sun came up on a March morning, Grandma and Grandpa trying to get me to school. I remember coming to the hospital later that afternoon and seeing this adorable bald little girl with a pink ribbon on her head, and fell in love with her immediately. When you started to get old enough to talk, you started calling me Baba, which stuck as a nickname of endearment for years. I have wonderful memories of playing with you as a little crawling baby in the living room, galloping my hands on the floor like a charging horse, and having you break out in a tremendous belly laugh that only a happy baby can. We formed such a strong and loving bond as brother and sister during those early years, and that bond would last all of our lives together.
Crushing me at Yahtzee CONSTANTLY. Playing Guitar Hero on my PlayStation 2 for hours on end in my room together. Booting me off our dial-up internet when I was chatting with my girlfriend, because you thought it was so funny. Being playful chased by the little pug dog down the street who'd only bark at you. Entertaining ourselves with the antics of Pig and Rat in the "Pearls Before Swine" cartoons in the newspaper. Watching your goldfish Sparky grow absolutely huge in his bowl from all of your care and love. Singing along with the newest N'Sync or Fall Out Boy song as a young teenager. Opening Christmas presents hidden in the Cube. Family dinners around the dining room table, making each other, as well as Mom & Dad, laugh so hard to the point of tears. Munching on beer dip together at Thanksgiving while we caught up on life as adults. Texting each other hilarious memes we found on the Internet. Sneaking you into town to surprise Mom & Dad at Christmas. Enjoying every single "Hey Big Brother!" postcard I would find in my mailbox that you sent while exploring the world. Having special dinners as a family at Salty's on the Columbia River and El Indio for Dad and Mom's birthdays in 2020. The quiet moments we could just sit and talk when you would stay at my house. The warm and love filled group hug we had as an immediate family the last time we saw you in Portland. These, and memories like it, are what I will look back on with great fondness when I remember our life together. I just wish we could have added far more to that list, and hate the thought that we won't be able to…
Chelsea, I was so proud of you being able to find your own path in the world as you grew into a deep, thoughtful, and caring woman. You did it in a way that not only made you so happy and full of joy, it did the same for so many of your friends - and there were A LOT of friends, all of which miss you tremendously now. I am glad you found a special and lasting love with a wonderful man like David. Chelsea, you were the ultimate Wildflower, and your spirit for life I will always cherish. When I looked back at pictures from your trip on the John Muir Trail, I saw my little sister living out her dreams, as only you knew how to do it. The spectacle of the natural beauty created by the Earth was so glorious up there, you had to be a short walk away from Heaven already. And maybe that's why you left us when you did. It's a question I don't know if I will find out in this lifetime, but hopefully one that can eventually be answered.
As you would close out your heartfelt postcards to me - "love you and miss you." And I will forever.
I promise I will look after, love, and protect Mom & Dad until my last breath for the both of us.
Rest well sweet sister Chelsea. I await the day that I will again see your beautiful smiling face looking back at me with open arms and a loving heart.
Your Brother,
Eric
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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