Karen Harrower

Obituaries

Karen Harrower

“Happy Trails to You...”

Karen Gae Bjorn Harrower, daughter of Virginia and the late Lyle Bjorn, died at her home, surrounded by her family on Jan. 1, 2008. Her life was taken away too soon after a valiant battle with cancer.

Karen was born on July 10, 1944, in Washington, D.C., and spent most of her childhood in Southern California and Florida. After she graduated from high school in Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., her family moved back to California where she spent the summer working at Disneyland. Karen then attended the University of Wyoming where she met her husband, Robert Harrower, who was working in Laramie as an engineer.

Karen and Bob lived in Colorado and Illinois for a short time before pursuing their dream of moving back to Wyoming to buy a ranch and start a construction business in Kemmerer. Karen was a cowgirl at heart from the time she was a small child. Their rural lifestyle near Kemmerer and then Pinedale allowed her to live her dream with horses and mountains surrounding her. Her passion for horses never wavered throughout her life. She was the leader of the horse 4-H program when her children were young, and it was during this time that she met many of her friends that she continued to enjoy for the rest of her life. It was in the company of these friends and her family that she rode her horses all over the countryside, attended clinics and ultimately adopted and trained wild desert horses. Karen was also a great poet, photographer, antique collector and made countless gifts and treasures with her sewing and knitting skills. As much as anything, she enjoyed spending time with her two grand daughters and other family.

On her birthday this last July, Karen was in a terrible horse accident resulting in fractures in both hands and wrists and five vertebrae, all which required surgery. It was during this time at the hospital that her cancer was detected.

She maintained an unbelievably positive attitude throughout the recovery of her accident and was determined to overcome her cancer. It was difficult to fathom her level of courage and hard to understand why this all happened. Our lives will never be the same without her.

Karen is survived by her husband Bob; daughter Kristin; sons Kim and Heath; daughter-in-law Maura; granddaughters Mallory and Rachael; mother Virginia; brother Rick; sister Kristin and other extended family members and great friends.

Karen chose to have a small family service this summer where her ashes will be dispersed at their remote mountain cabin, her favorite place on this earth. We mourn the loss of this great person who has touched so many lives. A special thanks to Dr. Close, Marilyn Huffman and Deanne Bradley. In lieu of flowers her family asks that donations be made to Community Home Care, P.O. Box 368, Big Piney,WY 83113.