Kathleen Roberta Seaton

Dr. Kathleen Rodrigues-Seaton passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, on July 19, 2026.

Kathleen was the second of 11 children born to Robert and Frances Ladaun Rodrigues on April 11, 1949.

She graduated from Mission San Jose High School and obtained her bachelor’s degree from Idaho State University. She furthered her education by earning her doctorate at The Ohio State University.

Kathleen loved traveling the world, quilting, painting, and many other forms of arts and crafts. She wrote children’s books, loved music and movies, and, most of all, adored her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Over the span of 20 years, Kathleen taught Film, English, Oral Composition, American Literature, and Children’s Literature as an Associate Professor at Tunghai University (東海大學), Feng Chia University (逢甲大學), Providence University (靜宜大學) in Taichung, Taiwan; and Tainan National University of the Arts (國立臺南藝術大學) in Tainan, Taiwan.

Diagnosed with progressive multiple sclerosis in 1997, she faced the disease with courage and determination. She continued to work, travel, and live fully, never allowing her diagnosis to define her.

She is preceded in death by her parents; siblings Susie, Toni, and Frankie; brothers Rex, Niles, Woodrow, and Robert Jr.; and former husbands Richard Seaton and John Leith.

She is survived by her children: Mikki McInturf (Pocatello, Idaho), Stephanie McInturf (Fort Hall, Idaho), Galen Leith (Longmont, Colorado), Mitchell Leith (Pocatello, Idaho), Emily Seaton (Pocatello, Idaho), and Benjamin Seaton (Seattle, Washington).

Arrangements are pending at this time.