Karen Lenore Row Garcia
Sept. 15, 1949 ~ April 2, 2017
Karen Lenore Row Garcia was born Sept. 15, 1949, and left this earth on April 2, 2017. Karen was 67 years old. Karen spent her early years in Rangely with her parents Monalta (Montie) and Tommy, brother Mark and younger siblings Tana and Scotty. At age 19 she met Virgil, who has been by her side for the past 48 years and was at her side at the time of her death.
Together, Karen and Virgil were blessed with seven children. Twins Marci and Shelly, Roberta, Joey, Stanley, Kaycee and Danny. Losing their son Joey as an infant was a devastating loss for the family.
Karen called her family the “Garcia Family Circus” because there were a lot of them. And because they had a lot going on. All the time. Karen loved her family deeply and she shared her family and their lives with all of us, and made us all a part of the Garcia Family Circus.
Their kids added to the number of the Garcia Family Circus with their kids. There are 19 grandchildren. Marci’s children are Tristan, Daylon, Derek and Kaleb. Shelly’s children are Kylan (deceased), Jacob, Cody, Karlee and Colton. Roberta’s children are Logan, Bailey and Keenan. Stanley’s children are Braydon, Brealyn and Taylor. Kaycee’s children are Ryan and Rylee, and Danny’s children are Ashdon and Jordyn.
Karen loved people and we all loved her. Her home was open to anyone who needed to talk. The coffee pot was always on and food was always plentiful. She made time for anyone who reached out to her. She was a friend to many. She had such kindness in her heart and an ability to make you feel welcome and loved. Karen was able to see blessings in the smallest things and felt such gratitude for the blessings in her life. These were her gifts.
She loved camping, picnicking, OHV rides, gardening and her flowers. She wouldn’t walk across that log at Lake of the Woods, but she could scoot across on her bottom! Because there was no way she was going to miss out on the fun on the other side of that log.
She faced her fears and overcame them. She loved watching her children, her nieces and nephews, and then her grandchildren play sports. When her health permitted, she was in the stands cheering them on. One of her favorite comfort foods was fried macaroni and now it’s a favorite comfort food for her kids’ families too. She loved bright color and pretty things, and looking pretty. She could dress up like no other, and her family is honoring that.
She loved card games and was the queen of Tetris. Karen loved all holidays. Her Christmas village was exquisite and unlike any Christmas village you’ve ever seen. She loved doing Easter eggs with her kids and grandkids and creating costumes for Halloween. She had such creativity in designing and sewing those costumes. And so many other talents—painting, crochet, knitting, scrapbooking. And she could carry more things in her cleavage than most women have in their purse!
Karen leaves behind her beloved husband Virgil, children Shelly (Marvin), Marci (Kent), Roberta (Buck), Stanley (Amber), Kaycee (Joe), Danny (Ashley), and eighteen beautiful grandchildren, her brothers Mark (Mary Lou), Scotty (Heather) and sister Tana, her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Ruby (Duane), Elefar, Cathie (Hal), and Dirck (Soni) and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, her son Joey, her grandson Kylan, niece Andi and brother-in-law Rory.
Karen will be remembered through the eyes and hearts of her children, her grandchildren, the many friends and family she leaves behind. Thank you, Karen, for your gentle love, friendship and kindness. We will remember you always and forever.
