It is with great sadness that the family of Karen A. Mortimore, age 76, of Scottsbluff, Nebraska share her passing on Tuesday May 11, 2021 at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff. A Memorial Service will be held at 1:30 pm on Friday, May 21, 2021 at Dugan Kramer Funeral Chapel with interment to follow at Fairview Cemetery. The service will be live streamed through the Dugan Kramer facebook page. Memorials may be given to honor or memorialize a polio survivor, to Nebraska Polio Survivors Association PO Box 6076 Omaha, NE 68106. Online condolences may be left at www.dugankramer.com
Karen A. Mortimore was born March 25, 1945 to Francis J. and Della (Frick) Owens in Stratton, NE. Their family moved several times, with her father working on the railroad. She attended school in Brush, Colorado, and Curtis, Bridgeport and McCook, NE and graduated high school in Scottsbluff.
Karen was a friend to all and she never met a stranger. She had a beautiful smile to share wherever she went. To know her was to love her.
Karen married Charles (Ben) Mortimore on August 7, 1962 in Stockville, NE. They lived in Indianola, Gering, McCook, Sidney and Scottsbluff. Karen was very active with Girl Scouts as a leader in Scottsbluff for about 10 years. She was also a Cub Scout den mother for a few years. She enjoyed crafts, sewing and crocheting. She worked at Tempo in the fabric department and then at Yellow Front and Sew & Sew here in Scottsbluff. She made beautiful afghans and blankets for her family. Karen was very involved and interested in genealogy, and researched and documented her and Ben’s families back to the 1800’s. She was a wealth of information for all family members that were interested in genealogy.
Karen was also very involved for many years in the Post Polio support groups. She contracted Polio when she was four. She visited many stores to help make sure they were ADA compliant and offer suggestions for their aisles and displays. Many businesses were happy for her help.
Karen is survived by her husband, Charles (Ben) Mortimore, her two children Kyla (Pete) Cwik of Chandler, AZ. and Jim (Missy) Mortimore of Scottsbluff, NE. Grandchildren (6), Greg (Samantha) Ford of San Tan Valley, AZ, Amber (Jimmy) Valentin, of Chandler, AZ, Wes (Maeghann) Mortimore of Gering, NE. Austin (Sara) Mortimore of Scottsbluff NE. Katelyn Cwik of Gilbert, AZ and Stephanie Cwik of Chandler, AZ. Great Grandchildren (6), Madeleine Ford, Alexis Ford, Bianca Valentin, Axel Mortimore, Riverson Mortimore, Diesel Mortimore and one Ford on the way. Her brothers Doug (Lana) Owens of Austin, MN and Don (Roxann) of Indianola, NE.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Francis J. and Della Owens, and siblings; Verl Owens, Neva Townsley, Dale Owens, and Larry Owens.
