20140401_102827On March 30, 2014 Karen J. Crawford left a world of loving friends and family to join her husband Ray Crawford in a reserved spot by his side in heaven.  Karen was born on February 20, 1941 in Ely, Nevada to parents John and Dorothy Cox.  Having a few short stays in Oregon and California, Karen spent most of her childhood and teenage years in McGill, Nevada.  She was a 1959 graduate of White Pine High School in Ely.  Following high school she was swept off her feet by a tall handsome man named Ray Crawford.  She married Ray in 1960 and moved to Wendover shortly thereafter.

Karen and Ray would live in Wendover for the rest of their lives.  They raised 5 children, although Ray really only wanted two sons; they both loved the 3 daughters and 2 sons just the same.  Those 5 children all grew up to be successful adults as the result of a loving and caring home.  All went on to form their own families resulting in a total of 8 grandchildren, 4 of those grandchildren also grew up in Wendover.   All her grandchildren had the full embrace of their grandmother’s love.

Karen was a fixture in the community of Wendover and her generosity was felt by many.  She loved arts and crafts and particularly loved to sew and quilt.  In fact she wrote a letter to her children that stated that she would always sew as long as she was able to do it.  Her children and friends admired her talents and a Karen Crawford quilt, night robe or dress was a prized and cherished possession.  She more than sewed; she was an artist, a doll maker and went through a ceramic phase that produced hundreds of kiln-fired pieces of work.  Karen didn’t do anything halfway.  She even operated a small fabric store for several decades to support her “habit” of sewing, doll making and ceramics.

Karen claimed to be a shy person when she was younger but she sure didn’t seem like a shy person in her later years of life.  She loved to see new places and meet new people and was not shy to strangers.  Karen would often strike up a conversation with anyone that would care to listen.  She spoke her mind and held little back.  Some would say that was a flaw but others admired her directness/candor and considered it just a thorn to the beautiful rose she was as a person.  Those that truly knew her could sense no malice in her directness and loved her regardless.

Karen was also a fighter.  She faced hardship and personal tragedy at both ends of her 73 years of life.  During Karen’s teenage years her mother left her father and she was tasked to raise her younger brother in a home without a mother.  In her later years she was faced with raising her youngest daughter for a time alone as her husband was temporarily taken away from her.  Only a few short years later, Ray was permanently taken away due to heart disease.  Just 2 years after Rays passing Karen was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer – but survived for another 13 years!  That never-say-die attitude serves as an example to all that knew and loved Karen for the beautiful rose that she was.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Sonny Cox.  Survivors include brothers Kenneth and Dennis Cox; children Mike Crawford, Kerrie Supanich, Terrie Flaherty, Ted Crawford and Paige Giles; grandchildren Nick Phillips, Brittany Crawford, Kasey Crawford, Allison Supanich, Morgan Supanich, Zach Giles, Natalie Giles and Lexie Giles.

On Thursday April 3rd a viewing is scheduled for 11:00 – 12:00 and funeral services at 12:30.  A graveside service at the Wendover Cemetery will follow with a luncheon at 2:00.  The viewing, service and luncheon are to be held at the Wendover L.D.S. church.