Karen Gay Bastion

YELM, WA – Karen Gay Bastion passed peacefully into the arms of her Savior and reunited with her beloved husband on January 25, 2022. She was 80 years old but left us gradually over the past five years as she bravely battled dementia.

Karen will be remembered as a vibrant, vivacious woman who was born on July 27, 1941 in Dallas, OR to Edwin Harvey Bryant and Hazel June Miller Bryant. Karen met her future husband, Kenneth Wendell “Wendy” Bastion, at Central High School in Independence, OR. After he joined the Air Force, they were married on July 17, 1956, in Reno, NV. They enjoyed nearly 55 years together and raised three children: Terry, Sherry, and Laurie.

Karen faithfully supported Wendy throughout his military career, creating stable homes for the family wherever his orders took them. Their children began their education in Fontainebleau, France and graduated from Kubasaki High School in Okinawa, Japan. In the years between, they lived in Washington, Oregon, Arkansas, and Colorado. It was during their last duty station in Fort Lewis, WA that Karen learned the travel agency business. She went on to open her first agency in 1981. Wendy joined the business soon after he left the military and helped open four more stores. They eventually sold the businesses and retired early to spend many happy years living alternately between Hemet, CA and Allyn, WA.

Karen was an excellent cook and absolutely loved to entertain. She never met a stranger and would strike up conversations with people everywhere she went. She was an accomplished tap dancer who performed in Senior Shows after she retired, and she was passionate about golfing, traveling, and her family.

Karen is survived by her children; Terry Allen Bastion (Nancy Sorensen) of Yelm, WA, Sherry Bastion (Robert Idol) of Cary, NC, and Laurie Marie Clark (George Clark) of Richland, WA; her seven grandchildren; Kevin Clark, Kristen Clark, Kyle Clark, Stephanie Serdar, Greg Bastion, Melissa DeHont, and Stephen Qualls; and eight great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Donna Wright of Salem, OR and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and her sisters Betty Wright and Marilou Greenwade.

A private family funeral will be held at Belcrest Memorial Park in Salem, OR. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a charity of your choice, in Karen’s name.