Karen Louise Tarter
January 21, 1966 - July 15, 2013
Obituary
Karen Louise Pearson Tarter
January 21, 1966 – July 15, 2013
Beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend has lost her six year battle with cancer.
Karen maintained her active lifestyle till the end, three months ago riding a zip line and sailing in Cabo San Lucas!
Karen took part in two drug trials for estrogen fed cancers and as a result those drugs are now approved, thus helping other women battle these cancers.
Karen and Randy loved to go camping, and on road trips with their boys. One year the family hiked over the North Cascades to Lake Chelan, river rafting and tubing the rivers, a true love for the water and oceans! She and Randy loved to travel, spontaneous adventurers. They are excellent cooks and love to entertain, she had a true gift at making a beautiful, warm and inviting home.
Karen graduated from Friday Harbor High School in 1984, attended WWU and earned her degree at Everett Community College. She worked many years as a successful paralegal then worked for Haggen Corporate Offices managing in the I.T. department.
Karen leaves behind her husband of 16 years , Randall C. Tarter; sons, Riley, Nick and Jake; Mother DeDe Woods-Fyler, Sisters, Holley Gardoski (Brian), Jodie MacArthur (Andrew), Brother, Davey Fyler (Nikki) as well as her nephews and nieces that all loved her deeply, Kyle, Morgan, Stirling, Gavin, Hunter, Griffin, Carlee, Maddie, Nolan and Sofia Marie, Karen’s Barbie playmate.
Karen will be truly missed by her family and friends. She leaves a hole in our lives and hearts.
A Celebration of her life and luncheon will be held Saturday, July 27th at 2:00 pm at Birch Bay Village, Community Center, 8181 Cowichan , Blaine, Washington 98230.www.bbvcc.com
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance which would be appreciated by Karen and Randy Tarter.
To my wife, Karen
The words to this song cannot begin to describe how I feel. I told you many times as we wandered through the journey of cancer that when I looked at your face this is the picture I see. I meant it then and I mean it still today. Your face, your eyes are burned into my memory what I now long for now is your voice. I will not lie and say that I do not have regrets or that I would not have liked to change anything in our life. The man I have become and the man I will continue to be you helped nourish and flourish with your love, patience ,understanding and support.
Love Randy
The Dance
Written by Tony Arata
Sung by Garth Brooks
Looking back on the memory of
The dance we shared ‘neath the stars alone
For a moment all the world was right
How could I have known that you’d ever say goodbye
And now I’m glad I didn’t know
The way it all would end the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain
But I’d of had to miss the dance
Holding you I held everything
For a moment wasn’t I a king
But if I’d only known how the king would fall
Hey who’s to say you know I might have chanced it all
And now I’m glad I didn’t know
The way it all would end the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain
But I’d of had to miss the dance
Yes my life is better left to chance
I could have missed the pain but I’d of had to miss the dance
Thank you
Karen was a wonderful sister and friend. She will be missed!
Our lovely niece Karen: Gracious, caring, brave.
Even though our friendship with Karen was brief, we consider ourselves fortunate for the time we’ve spent in her company. Karen was a gracious and generous soul.
I will think of you and miss you everyday of my life. I will try to be as strong and as good as you were to me. I love you so much, your Mother always..
I am so sorry to learn of Karen’s passing. I was very fortunate to work with her at Swinomish. My thoughts are with her family.