Karen was born September 9, 1969 in Portland, Oregon to Marvin Lee Wray and Barbara Jean Munson-Wray. A 1987 graduate of Scappoose High School, she obtained a BA degree from the University of Portland, a MA degree from Lewis and Clark in Public Administration and a Juris Doctor Degree from Lewis and Clark in 2001.
A flute player, a tap dancer, a 4-H member, A Girl Scout Gold Award recipient, a granger, a Rainbow girl from Mizpah Chapter in St. Helens, an exchange student to Musson, Belgium were all things she enjoyed. She was a member of the First Baptist Church, Portland, Oregon, Daughters of the American Revolution, Oregon State Bar; and volunteered many hours at the Scappoose Senior Center, as well as provided pro bono legal services to those in need.
Karen was employed by Linnton Plywood during the summer working at the mill, or at The Rheinlander where she learned to yodel, sing, and wear a dirndl, and wait on customers while attending college. Upon graduating from University of Portland it was off to Farmers Insurance, Bonneville Power, and having her own law office.
She met Robert Conrad Knauerhase by answering a newspaper ad in the Willamette Week newspaper. They were married at the First Baptist Church of Portland on February 22, 1997. She loved to travel and did so to Australia, China, India, Alaska, Panama Canal, Europe, and many places in the United States and Canada. However, her favorite was New York City which she visited multiple times to see many sites including Broadway plays, Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade and the dropping of the crystal ball in Times Square.
She is survived by her mother, Barbara Jean Wray, Scappoose; sister, Julie Lynne Wray, Hillsboro; and her dear friend, Rene Melgar, as well as her two cats, Squirt and Cyd. She was preceded in death by her father; and his siblings, Maureen Mills of Benton AR., Lucille Alexander and Thomas Wray of Little Rock, AR and Harry Wray of Hillsboro.
Services celebrating Karen’s life include a viewing at Skyline Memorial Gardens, 4101 NW Skyline Dr., Portland, 503-292-6611, on Friday, June 10 between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Her funeral will be Saturday, June 11 at 2 p.m. in the Skyline Memorial Chapel, with internment at the cemetery, followed by a reception at the facility.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.skylinememorialgardens.com for the Wray family.
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