Karen Sue Anderson Kernell , age 53, peacefully lost her brave battle to cancer on May 12, 2010.
She was born the third of five children to Harold ‘Mike’ Anderson and Nadine Price Anderson in Topeka, Kansas on October 30, 1956. She and her siblings lovingly referred to themselves as ‘Air Force Brats’, and they moved several times during her childhood – to Taiwan, then back to Kansas, then to Southern California.
In 1969, Karen’s family moved to Redmond, WA. She graduated from Lake Washington High School in 1974. During her high school years, Karen was a gymnast, and especially excelled at trampoline. She was also involved in choir.
Karen spent many years in the banking industry as a well-loved teller, but her most important job was that of a devoted mother to her four children. From a very young age, she wanted to be a ‘mommy’ when she grew up. As her children grew and had children of their own, Karen wholeheartedly embraced the title of Grandma and relished the time she spent with her grandchildren.
She enjoyed horseback riding, spending time at the beach, reading, crocheting, collecting precious stones, and in recent years, spent many a happy afternoon riding on the back of her husband’s Harley.
Karen is preceded in death by her parents, Harold ‘Mike’ Anderson and Nadine Price Anderson. She is survived by her husband of 27 years, Steven Kernell, her four children, Julie (Ian) Maycock, Brian (Heather) Damron, Jamie (Ryan) Larsen and Amanda (Chris) Maciver, her six grandchildren, Peter, Kaylei, Mikayla, Ethan, Jeweliza, George and Baby Girl Maciver, who is due in October. She is also survived by her siblings, Ken (Debbie) Anderson, Kathy (Mike) Lane, Kristi Elser and Kevin Anderson, her lifelong friend, Jane Gunnyon-Berard and Barb Kraupie, her in-laws, Bud and Vada Kernell, and numerous sisters and brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and an eclectic collection of friends.
A celebration of Karen’s life will be held on Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 7:00 pm at The Midnight Cry Church at Snohomish Evangelical Free Church, 210 Avenue B, Snohomish, WA 98290.
A memorial fund has been set up in Karen’s name at the Snohomish, WA Wells Fargo Branch, the proceeds of which will be donated to the American Cancer Society.