Prapimpan "Patty" was born in Bangkok, Thailand, daughter of Dr. Chitti Chittivej and Liliad Krepthong. Her father's specialty in respiratory medicine brought the family to Denver, Colorado in the 1950's. Her mother "Lily" who was a nurse and mid-wife in Thailand, followed her husband and opened the first Thai restaurant in the US. Lily brought most of her children to help at the Chada Thai, including Patty. However, after a few years, Patty returned to Thailand for an arranged marriage to her first husband, a lawyer and officer in the Thai Air Force. They had two daughters, but the marriage did not last long. She came back to the US to resume her studies, and married again, this time her choice. Patty and her second husband Dr. Glenn Coutts had a son but divorced after many years. As a single mom raising 3 children mostly by herself, Patty continued her academic pursuits, while working and volunteering.

Patty was an intelligent and strong-willed woman, fiercely independent with a big heart, a career woman, business owner, and consummate volunteer always wanting to help those who needed it most. She was a homemaker, a wife, a single mom and grandmother and recently became a great grandmother.

She served on the Asian Education Advisory Council for Denver Public Schools and boards of numerous non-profits, such as the Thai Lions Club, Asian Round Table of Colorado, Aurora Asian/Pacific Community Partnership, and the Colorado Alliance for Health Equity and Practice just to name a few. She was a vocational counselor at the Asian Pacific Development Center and promoted woman owned businesses while working for the Asian Trade and Cultural Center and the Asian Chamber of Commerce.

Patty was an academic and loved learning. She earned a BA in Communications and an MPA (Masters in Public Administration) from the University of Colorado-Denver, as well as an associate degree in business management. She also found time to co-write a Thai cookbook with her beloved mother Liliad Chittivej.

She was more spiritual than religious as a member of the Soka-Gakkai Buddhist Culture Center, Universalist Unitarian Church and the Thai Temple Wat Buddhawararam.

She leaves behind 3 smart and independent children, who take after their mom, 7 grandchildren, who will miss her sense of humor and playfulness, and 1 great grandson, among many others whose lives were enriched by her presence. May her memory always be a blessing.