Karen Christine Abeyta

When someone passes into heaven, it is expected that those left behind will write a summary of their life. But, Mom, your life was so much more than a list of dates, jobs, accomplishments, and places lived.

If we had to describe your life, it would be divided into two parts: before children and after children. Not because the first part wasn’t important, but because once you became a mother, everything else took second place. Your children and later your grandchildren became the light of your life, your purpose, and your reason for everything you did.

You were born Karen Christine Loges on September 23, 1951, in Midwest City, Oklahoma, to Beverly Jean (Krieger) Loges and Alfred Paul Loges. You moved back to Yakima in 1952 where you attended Marcus Whitman and then later Wide Hollow Elementary. As the oldest of four children, you helped set the tone for the family that would follow. You and your siblings—Steve, Colleen, and Denise—shared a bond that endured throughout your entire lives. Together, you were a testament to the love and values your parents instilled in all of you. We may never fully know how Grandma and Grandpa managed to raise four such kind, gentle, and loving souls, but they did. The bond you and your siblings shared withstood the test of time and remained one of the great blessings of your life.

Even as a young woman, people were drawn to your beauty, warmth, and charm. In high school, you were known as the Loges family beauty queen. You were crowned Kiwanis Miss Yakima Sunshine, a role you embraced with pride and enthusiasm. You rode on floats, participated in parades, attended community events, and represented the spirit of the Yakima Valley with grace and poise. Long before we knew you as Mom and Grandma, others already recognized the qualities that made you so special.

While attending West Valley High School you were part of the National Honor Society, Drill Team (officer for two years), Pep Club, and Future Homemakers of Yakima. You graduated from West Valley High School in 1969 and were already building a strong work ethic long before adulthood. While still in high school, you worked at Dairy Queen, House of Fabrics, and Weisfield Jewelers. After graduation, you attended Yakima Business College and received a degree in bookkeeping. Your first job in this field was with Dr. A. J. Meyer’s office in Yakima.

One of the most important chapters of your story began when you married your High School sweetheart, Terry Abeyta, on June 27, 1970. Together, you built a life centered on love, faith, family, and friendship. You followed Dad to Walla Walla while he attended Whitman College, where you worked for Washington State Corrections. Later, the two of you moved to Seattle for Terry’s law school, where you worked for the Washington State Department of Hearings, Western Tours/Gray Line, Washington Limousine, and Friedlander & Sons Jewelers. Over the years, you held many jobs, but your career never defined you. The people you loved and the lives you touched did.

Then came the role you cherished most—being a mom.

You welcomed Meagan in 1976, Julie in 1979, and David in 1983. From that moment forward, your life revolved around your children. You attended events, celebrated victories, soothed disappointments, offered advice, and somehow always knew exactly what was needed. You were our biggest supporter, our fiercest advocate, and our safest place to land.

You had a gift for making ordinary moments feel special. You made everything fun—from cooking dinner to shopping trips to long car rides. You always knew how to make us feel better, whether it was through a thoughtful card, a phone call, an inspirational book, a special gift just because, or a visit when we needed you most. No matter what was happening in your life, you always answered the phone. We knew we could count on hearing your voice on the other end.

You gave even when you had nothing left to give. Your generosity wasn’t measured by what you had, but by who you were. You saw the best in people and rarely spoke unkindly about anyone. The only exceptions were those who truly did something wrong—or dared to hurt one of your children. Your loyalty to your family was unmatched. You were an angel in the shape of our mom.

That same loyalty extended far beyond your family. You were an incredible friend. When you loved someone, you loved hard. You celebrated your friends’ joys, helped carry their burdens, and stood beside them through every season of life. The friendships you built lasted decades because people knew they could count on you. You showed up, you listened, and you cared deeply. Those fortunate enough to call you a friend knew the gift of your unwavering loyalty and love.

Mom, you were beautiful inside and out. The beauty that earned you the title of Miss Yakima Sunshine as a young woman never faded. As the years passed, what shone brightest was the beauty of your heart—your kindness, compassion, loyalty, and love for others.

We loved watching you get ready for special occasions. Whether it was a wedding, a gala, a fundraiser, or a night out, you carried yourself with grace and elegance. No matter where you were going, you always looked beautiful.

One of the things we admired most about you was that you never stopped learning. In June 2006, you graduated from Yakima Valley College with an Associate of Arts degree in Criminal Justice. You earned membership in Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society, made both the President’s List and National Dean’s List, and served as President of the Justice Club from 2004 to 2005. You participated in job fairs, volunteered during Thanksgiving and Christmas, and proved to all of us that it is never too late to pursue a dream.

You dedicated countless hours to helping others. You coached junior varsity tennis at Eisenhower High School from 2003 to 2006 and tennis at La Salle High School from 2007 to 2012. You worked as a caterer for Too Busy to Cook and Santiago’s. In 2014, you found a role perfectly suited to your compassionate heart when you became a paraeducator with the West Valley School District, where you served students and families until your retirement in 2023.

Your commitment to service extended far beyond your work. You served on the YMCA Board of Directors in nearly every leadership role imaginable—President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. You served as Co President of the St. Joseph/Marquette School Board, President of the Davis High School PTSA, member of the Yakima County Juvenile Diversion Board, the Yakima County City PTSA Council, and the Women’s Century Club, where you also served as President and Vice President. You believed communities become stronger when people step forward to serve, and you lived that belief every day.

Life doesn't always follow the path we imagine. After many decades together, you and Dad divorced, and life took you both in different directions. But somehow, in those final years, our family found its way back to one another. We were given the beautiful gift of spending time together again as a whole family. We shared holidays, celebrations, conversations, laughter, and simply being together. Those moments are among the memories we will hold closest to our hearts. We are so grateful that you got to see your family reunited and experience that love around you.

But if being a mother was your favorite role, being a grandmother was your greatest joy.

To say you loved being Grandma would be an understatement. As much as you loved your children, there was something extraordinary about the love you had for your grandchildren.

First came Shawn, who burst into your life with endless energy, followed shortly by Jarrin. You always said those two boys were gifts who arrived during a difficult season and brought joy back into your world. Then came Beau, Avery, Jamison, Poppy, and Margaux, each one capturing another piece of your heart.

You were the grandmother every child deserves. You showed up. Again and again, year after year, you were there. Wrestling, Ball games, dance recitals, school programs, concerts, practices, birthdays, graduations—you rarely missed an opportunity to cheer from the sidelines. We are not sure there has ever been another grandmother who spent as much time sitting on bleachers as you did.

You created special memories with each grandchild. Whether it was the visits and frequent phone calls with Shawn, cooking alongside Jarrin, baking in the kitchen with Jamison, sharing stories and laughter on the rides to Avery's basketball games, showing up to activities with Beau and Penelope no matter how big or small, and picking up Margaux from school, or simply spending time together, you had a gift for making every grandchild feel seen, loved, and important.

Just when you thought your grandmother heart was completely full, along came Isabella. From the moment she arrived, the bond between the two of you was undeniable- you were two peas in a pod. She truly thought you hung the moon.

Even when your health began to decline, you never stopped being Grandma. You babysat when you could have stayed home and rested. You attended games, practices, graduations, and dance recitals. You read books, played games, and even participated in TikTok experiments. You continued to make memories, create laughter, and show up with the same devotion you had always given your family.

Being a grandmother wasn’t simply something you did—it was who you were. Your grandchildren knew they were deeply loved, endlessly supported, and always welcome in your arms. That love will remain one of the greatest gifts you leave behind.

Mom, one of the greatest lessons you taught us was how to face adversity. When cancer invaded your life, you fought, and fought, and fought some more. You fought with courage, dignity, determination, and grace. Even as cancer tried to take so much from you, it could never take what made you truly beautiful. Your light continued to shine through every challenge, every treatment, and every difficult day.

There were times when we truly believed you had won. You met every obstacle with hope and strength. Even while carrying a burden that most people could never imagine, you continued to focus on everyone else. You helped plan an amazing wedding. You continued to show up for your children, your grandchildren, your family, and your friends. You kept loving, encouraging, cheering, and caring for everyone around you.

We know you did not want to leave us. There were still plans to make, celebrations to attend, grandchildren to cheer for, and memories to create. We know you held on for as long as you could because you wanted to be here for us.

Mom, we already miss your phone calls, your advice, your laughter, and your presence at family gatherings. We miss knowing that no matter what happened, you would always be there. Yet even in our grief, we are grateful. Grateful that we had you. Grateful for every lesson, every sacrifice, every hug, every memory, and every expression of love you gave so freely.

We promise to continue living the truths you taught us. We will choose kindness. We will show up for the people we love. We will serve others. We will cherish family. We will celebrate life’s joys and face its hardships with the same courage and grace that you showed every day.

Thank you for being our mom.

Thank you for being Grandma.

Thank you for being our example.

Thank you for a life that made all of ours better.

We love you more than words can express, and we will carry you with us always. Until we meet again, your love will continue to guide us, your example will continue to inspire us, and your memory will forever live in our hearts.

Love always,

Your children, grandchildren, family, and all those whose lives were made brighter because of you.

Your celebration of life will take place on September 26, 2026 at 9:00am at St. Paul's Cathedral. Burial and Reception will follow. Reception details to be determined. Viewing will take place at Keith and Keith Funeral Home on Thursday, September 24, 2026 from 4-7.

We would love to give a special thanks to Virginia Mason staff, especially her oncologist Dr. Pocozzi, Dr. Mark Beiter, Bibi Wong RN, and Ginny Howell Heinitz RN.