Karen K. Hester

Karen Kay Hester, formerly of Morrison, Colorado, passed away peacefully in Longmont, Colorado on Sunday, March 19, 2023. She was 84 years old. Karen was born a fighter, which was a good thing because her early days were a struggle. She put herself through college, lost a precious child, had three more, got a divorce & finished her biology degree. Living as an An Independent Woman when such a thing was anathema, she worked relentlessly as a cook, teacher, product tester, steel yard worker, lab manager, and secretary. Ultimately, she worked in the Federal Center in Colorado & discovered a passion she didn't know she had: Geology. Her newly found love for geology lead to interest fossils, which then lead to Paleontology. She volunteered at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, volunteered at dinosaur "digs" and, finally, became the first director of the Friends of Dinosaur Ridge. She moved into the mountains high above Morrison & embraced the community where she lived until disaster struck. A series of increasingly more severe strokes left her unable to work with the rocks that she loved. Eventually she moved to Longmont to finish out her days near her only surviving child. She is mother to Douglas S. Hester, Lynn D. Saxe, Gregory D. Hester and Teresa P. Melvin. She has five outstanding grandchildren: S. Danyelle Schmidt, Alicia B. Saxe, John M. Saxe, Alex L. Melvin and Cole G. Melvin. She is survived by her daughter Teresa & all of her grandkids. No services will be held. Should you wish to honor Karen, charitable contributions are encouraged to the Friends of Dinosaur Ridge or to your favorite scientific organization. Fond memories of Karen and words of condolence for her family are welcome at www.ahlbergfuneralchapel.com.