Sara D. Chabot

Sara Demarest Marks Chabot Obituary

Sara Demarest Marks Chabot was born on July 4th,1976, ( the Bicentennial Anniversary of our Nation ) in Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, CA..  She was the only adult child and daughter of  Dorothy P. Riggs, fine gallery/museum artist ( mixed media,collage, assemblage, oil painter ) ,  originally of Long Island, N.Y. but currently residing in CA and Paul T. Marks, currently a senior technical advisor with Apple ,originally of Coral Gables FL. but currently residing in OR.  Sara’s early childhood home was in Playa Del Rey, CA and later  the North County Coastal communities of San Diego,  CA. Sara attended Unity Church and it’s YOU (Youth Of Unity) for teens. She went to the one in Carlsbad, CA. where she met new and lasting friends. Sara attended Diegueno Country Day School, Oak Crest Jr. High and San Dieguito High School in Encinitas. Sara studied at Mira Costa College in Cardiff-by-the Sea, CA and transferred to Savannah College of Art and Design, graduating in the year 2000 with a BFA degree with Honors in Children's Book  Illustration( and a minor in Art History) .

In Savannah GA she met Jamison P. Chabot, also a SCAD Graduate and formerly of St Augustine FL.. They were married  in 2001 in San Luis Obispo, CA.  They moved to Portland, OR shortly thereafter. Sara loved psychology and wanted to help people seeking mental wellness and counseling. Therefore, Sara became employed at Lifeworks Northwest as an Art Therapist in Portland.. She also worked at a homeless youth organization in downtown Portland. In yet another job, Sara worked with a group of clients living with severe mental illness in a home. She loved taking them out on fun outings.

On June 21st, 2006 ,Skyler Jamison Chabot was welcomed into the world.  Thus began Sara’s greatest calling into Motherhood. On  March 4th, 2009, Sara gave birth to her second son, Ashton Wheelan Chabot. With the arrival of young children to care for, Sara chose to be a  full time mother. She was a loving, nurturing and devoted mother and playful with her children whom she adored. Once the children attended kindergarten and elementary school , Sara became a Lic. Esthetician. She loved beauty and fashion. Sara was extremely feminine and extremely smart !

Growing up by the Pacific Ocean, Sara loved to swim and occasionally snow skied in the nearby mountains. Sara spent many summers with her maternal family on Lake Sunapee, N.H. and sometimes at summer camp, which she loved. Sara was always ready for an adventure. She was an avid snorkeler, and loved river rafting, camping and especially  foreign travel. Travels included: England, France, Greece, Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain, The Bahamas, Mexico, and the Hawaiian Islands.Sara loved to attend music concerts with friends,movies and the performing arts with her family; theatre, ballet and opera productions. She had endless enthusiasm and generosity. During Christmas, Valentine's Day, Halloween and birthday parties she lavished her children with all the festive trimmings. With her big heart, Sara rescued a 4 lb. Chihuahua a few years ago. She and her boys together voted on a name for the tiny pooch, and  dubbed her Ruby. Sara loved cats and one year for Xmas she surprised her sons with two kittens which they named Knick-Knack and Disco.

Sara was a talented water colorist, and enjoyed creative pursuits such as photography, jewelry making, a variety of crafts and a maker of awesome costumes for herself and her sons. She had a personality that bubbled over with joy, a sense of humor and easily accepted people without judgement or criticism. She was a very deep person who believed in being optimistic,positive, and loving. Unfortunately, Sara struggled during the last four or so years of her life with MS, a brain injury from an auto accident, Fibromyalgia, and Depression. On the positive side, illness was a catalyst for Sara discovering  a deeper awareness of her own spiritual values. She refused to give up and continued to live, celebrating and loving life. Skyler and Ashton were the greatest loves of her life.

Sara was immensely proud of her family heritage. On her mother's side , her lineage can be directly traced back to the early arrival of French Huguenots in N.J. and N.Y. some of which fought in our American Revolution. Her beloved maternal grandmother was an Honors graduate of William and Mary College , and maternal grandfather was the world famous tennis player Robert L. Riggs aka Bobby Riggs, Wimbledon Champion of 1939 and winner of numerous USTA titles. Sara’s paternal grandmother Martha G. Marks, Canadian, had Scottish origins She participated in WW 2 as a meteorologist. Her paternal grandfather was a U.S. Naval Officer and attorney with family roots going back to Romania.  Sara is survived by her two sons; Skyler,age11 and Ashton age 8, her mother, father, step father, Rod Steelman, and three uncles, two aunts and three cousins and many circles of friends.

A Memorial Service will be held at Rose City Cemetery &  Funeral Home at 12:00pm (Noon) on Sat. November 18th. The address is 5625 N.E. Fremont Street Portland, OR 97213-1754.

Those attending the service are invited to share in a Celebration of Sara’s Life immediately following the chapel service . The celebration and reception will be held  at the McMenamins Kennedy School, located at  5736 NE 33rd Ave. Portland, OR  97211 in the Jordan Room. There is a large parking lot behind the building with entrance on NE Jessup St.

Flowers may be sent to Rose City Funeral Home. In Lieu of flowers, please consider a charitable donation to the National MS Society.