Honolulu watercolorist

Peggy Chun, 62, a Honolulu artist known for her watercolor paintings of island life and Hawaiian-themed Christmas ornaments, died Wednesday at home in Honolulu after a six-year struggle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a neurodegenerative ailment also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Chun, whose mother, grandfather and twin sister also died of the disease, had made plans to have her life support disconnected once she could no longer communicate.

Though the disease slowly disabled her hands and arms, Chun continued to paint, eventually holding brushes in her mouth.

Her vibrant watercolors of plantation cottages, tropical landscapes and whimsical animal scenes were popular with Hawaiians and tourists.

She also created portraits of religious leaders Mother Marianne Cope and Father Damien, who helped care for patients with Hansen’s disease, or leprosy, on the island of Molokai.

Chun also co-wrote a children’s book, “The Watercolor Cat,” with Shelly Mecum.

Born in Lawton, Okla., in 1946, she moved to Hawaii in 1969 and taught high school speech and drama. She made handcrafted Christmas ornaments and began painting in 1987, after her artist sister died.