Karen Kay Crowder

Karen Kay Simpson Crowder, 60, passed away in London, England May 20, 2023 while traveling with her husband Gary for their 39th anniversary. Karen was born on January 1, 1963 in Modesto, California to Marvin Eugene Simpson and Evelyn Bessie Ekrut.

She was raised in California, Nevada and Oregon where she attended and graduated from Stayton Oregon High School in 1981. She attended BYU where she met Gary Crowder. She was married and sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple to Gary Shanks Crowder on June 21, 1984.

Karen was President of her AFS Club. She was an exchange student in High School in Wisconsin. She went to the Presidential Classroom in 1981 in Washington DC. She was a future First Citizen Nominee.

She played the flute in the Band in High School and played it the rest of her life. She loved to sing.

She decided to put her professional career on hold to be a wife and mother. She is the mother of six children and twelve grandchildren.

She loved Jesus Christ. Her favorite hymns that she always said brought her peace and strength were “I KNOW That My Redeemer Lives” and “I Stand All Amazed.”

The legacy she wanted to be known by was: “In as much as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto Me.” She was always finding ways to serve others. She served others in each community she lived in until she died.

Karen loved to sew. She was always helping others with alterations. She was a professional and a master at sewing. She could make anything out of fabric or fix any item of clothing.

Karen was a Professional Photographer. She owned a Photography studio for many years. She loved taking pictures of her grandkids.

She loved to travel. She had plans to travel around the world during her and Gary’s retirement.

Karen was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served in many callings. She was the Primary President of the Walla Walla, Washington Stake of the children up to age 11 at her death.

Karen is survived by her husband Gary Crowder, children: Cristopher Shanks (Natalie) Crowder, Jeremy Broadus Crowder, Andrew Marvin (Mariah) Crowder, Scott Simpson Crowder, Laura Elizabeth (Jordan) Dodge, and Bryan Lee (Kendall) Crowder; her siblings Elizabeth Ann (David) Shettles, John Marvin (Jolene) Simpson, Jeanine Marie (Richard) Persons; and 12 grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents Marvin Eugene Simpson and Evelyn Bessie Ekrut Rhodes, niece Abigail Persons, nephew Brandon Simpson, sister-in-law Lisa Simpson and brother-in-law Mark Lawrence Crowder.

Funeral services for Karen were held on Saturday May 27, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at the Pendleton Building of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 12th & Gilliam. Viewings were held on Friday evening May 26 from 6-8 p.m. at Pendleton Pioneer Chapel (131 SE Byers) and prior to the funeral from 9:00- 10:45 a.m. at the church. Interment took place in the Olney Cemetery May 31, 2023