Karen Shinn

Karen was born on September 2nd 1943 in Chicago, Illinois to Reid and Vernette (Isler) Simmons. She received her Bachelor's degree in Music from Florida State University in 1965. On July 9th, 1966, she married Thomas Edwin Shinn in Boca Raton.

Karen taught music for many years before venturing into the business world. She opened her first business in 1978, and after moving to Washington DC in 1983, she later founded a travel business which she sold in 2007. Shortly thereafter, Karen co-founded a government military and intelligence services firm, from which she retired earlier this year and moved back to Boca Raton in July.

Karen loved to travel. She visited various countries in Asia, Europe, the Americas and the Caribbean. Famous for her large scotch selection, Karen taught her sons to appreciate whisky and helped them build their collections.

Famous for her green thumb, she grew everything from a forest of towering pines that now surround their former Washington DC home to delicious herbs and vegetables in their gardens to huge variety of flowers crowing their former home ranging from snapdragon, pansies, daisies, and geraniums.

Karen was preceded in death by her father, Reid, and her mother, Vernette. She is survived by her husband Thomas, two sons Michael and Scott, brother Reid, sister Judi, and cousins Debbie and Danielle.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, November 5th,

2021 at Babione-Kraeer Funeral Home at 1100 North Federal Highway in Boca Raton, FL. Please send flowers or donations to the Babione-Kraeer Funeral Home.