Kathleen Martha Travis

Kathleen Martha Meister was born on December 29, 1965 in Lynwood, California.  Her parents are Karl and Katharina Meister, German immigrants who came to California in 1956 with Kathleen's older brother, Peter. She also has an older sister, Maria, and younger brother, Karl.  Kathleen grew up in South Gate, California and attended Bryson Elementary, South Gate Junior High School, and then South Gate High School.

Kathleen’s childhood was typical: she loved riding her skateboard, roller skating and riding her bike. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends. She especially loved swimming and going to the beach.

She played with friends in the neighborhood, helped Mom with chores around the house, and even helped her Dad, who restored old VW Beetles, bleed the brakes! She learned the German language and culture, the old-world work ethic, as well as old-world cooking from her parents, too. She had many childhood friends, some who visited her in the hospital during the last days of her life.

Upon her graduation from high school in 1984 with a high GPA, she entered college at the University of Southern California.  She studied business and marketing and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration in 1988.

During her college years, Kathleen worked part-time for Bank of America as a junior credit analyst. Upon graduating from U.S.C., Kathleen began working full-time as a reluctant, yet dutiful, credit analyst, and eventually ended up working as a private banker for City National Bank in Beverly Hills, California.

Kathleen loved animation and clothing design and took art classes with the hopes of breaking into either the animation industry or the fashion industry.

Kathleen met her husband, Stephen Michael Travis, at Bank of America. They dated, became best-friends, and then “soul-mates.” They were married in 2002 and quickly started a family. Conrad G. Travis, aged 13 years, is her son, and Elke G. Travis, aged 11 years, is her daughter.

Kathleen's professional banking career ended after becoming a Mom, because having someone else raise her children was not worth the extra money of a full-time job. She has been a stay-at-home Mom ever since.

Kathleen loved volunteering in the kids' schools with the PTA and within the classroom. She was a Girl Scout leader for Elke's troop and also was in a leadership position with Conrad’s Cub Scout pack and Boy Scout troop. She could be found cheering on both of her children in all their sports and music activities. She taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible School, and was a regular member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (LCMS) in Long Beach, California.

As an adult, Kathleen loved watching youth soccer in-person, and professional European soccer with her husband and cheering on the German national soccer team whenever they played.  She enjoyed their pool and hot-tub with her children and she especially loved going to the beach with her family.

Kathleen received a kidney transplant in 2010. Because of her sister Maria’s kidney donation, Kathleen became a part of a paired exchange program that allowed twenty-five other people to receive a kidney, as well. (“Thanks, Sis.”) Her kidney was “Texas-sized” as her donor was a big Texas man. She was grateful for that gift that improved her health and let her to continue to serve both her family and her community better.

In 2013 Kathleen lost weight due to a plugged ureter that caused her kidney to enlarge. A catheter opened the blockage but the enlarged kidney seemed to cause chronic nerve pain that gradually became worse over time. She carried on, non-complaining, as always. She began working for the Cypress School district as a noon-duty supervisor, and then as a substitute teacher in 2015. She eventually wanted to become a credentialed, full-time teacher. She began to lose weight again, and this time it was unexplained, except that she “wasn’t eating enough.” When she entered the hospital a month later, she had multiple infections which her already-compromised immune system just couldn’t fight. She became septic. Her “Big Texas kidney” lasted almost to her last day. Her heart, although young and strong and full of fight, finally gave out a couple of days later.

She was baptized in Christ, communed regularly with Christ, was clothed in Christ’s righteousness, and finally died in Christ, fully trusting in His promises. She now lives with Him forever.

Luyben Dilday Mortuary (562) 425-6401