Karen Veronica Jones passed away quietly in the early hours of June 19, 2006.

She was a loving wife, devoted mother, grandmother and dedicated educator. Karen was born to Lt. Col. Leonard N. Hippe and Hazel (Brenna) Hippe in San Diego on July 13, 1937. Karen spent her early years in California, Texas and Hawaii until the age of 10 when she was sent to live in North Dakota with her relatives. Karen’s love for music was discovered during this time. By the age of 11 she had her own radio show on Sundays where she would sing the classics and religious favorites.

Soon after her graduation from Central High School in Grand Forks, N.D. in 1955 Karen found herself on a Greyhound bus bound for California.

While singing in a nightclub in San Diego during the summer of 1957, she met the love of her life, Walter Jones. Walter was a talented performer, singing and dancing in a small troupe. The couple eloped to Las Vegas, Nev. in November 1957.

All three of their daughters were born in San Diego, they also buried a son there. Walter and Karen moved their young family to Bellevue in the summer of 1969 and lived there until 1980. Karen received her teaching certificate from the University of Washington in 1973, and taught home economics at Sammamish High School in Bellevue for many years.

Walter’s calling moved them to Kansas City, Mo. in 1980 where he attended Unity School of Christianity divinity school, and Karen managed the Unity Village bookstore. Together, they ministered at several Unity churches in northern and southern California until Walter’s retirement in 1992 when they moved back to Washington.

Karen continued her studies in education earning a master’s degree in education, her PhD in divinity studies, and was herself an ordained minister.

Karen resumed her love of teaching by becoming a home economics teacher at Langley Middle School. She was a popular teacher, taking the time to tutor “at-risk” kids and heading up various clubs at the school. She was a volunteer at the Island County Fair for many years judging and organizing many of the canning and preserving competitions as well. Retirement was just a word for Karen and Walter. They volunteered at the Senior Thrift Store in Freeland an average of 35 hours each a week. Karen trained and oversaw many cashiers and volunteers, some of which had been students of hers. She wrote and delivered the monthly newsletter at her home in the “Wheel Estates” in Langley and baked the best cinnamon rolls around.

She is survived by her loving husband of almost 49 years, Walter; her daughters Alethea Shinneman of Whidbey Island, Diana Schwartz of Liberty Lake and Gwen Jones; her partner Celia Black of Whidbey Island; four wonderful granddaughters, Haley and Caroline Schwartz of Liberty Lake, Katy Brooks of Seattle, and Allison Brooks of Boston, Mass. Her commitment to education, love of family and untiring devotion to life will be her legacy. She will be missed by many, but remembered with warmth.

Friends are invited to join the family for an informal potluck to celebrate Karen’s life from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 25 at her daughter’s home in Langley (431 Island View Lane, Langley).

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Whidbey General Hospital in Karen’s name.