Karen Marie Furman lost her courageous battle to cancer on July 8, 2002 with her family at her side. Mrs. Furman was born in Seattle on Jan. 21, 1958 to Eldon and Gladys Lambert.

Mrs. Furman was three when the family moved to Whidbey Island. She graduated from Langley High School in 1976, and that summer married Peter Furman. They raised their family on a Millman Road, Freeland, farm.

Mrs. Furman worked at various places on South Whidbey, but will be best remembered for her smiles at Ace Hardware.

Mrs. Furman is survived by her fiance Dale Cason of Freeland and her children, Stephanie (Ken) Blehm of Selah, Kenneth (Selina) Furman of Louisiana, DeAnna (Iris Briggs) Furman of Everett, and Peter Furman Jr. of Freeland.

She is also survived by her grandchildren, Kenny, Hunter and Montana Blehm, Jordan Furman, and Arianna Briggs; her mother, Julie Lambert of Clinton; brother, Howard (Becky) Lambert of New Mexico; and sisters, Jennie (Jim) Gabelein of Clinton, Patty (Vincent) Valdez of Kennewick, Marjorie (Terry) Hornshaw of Clinton, Linda (Jay) Wallace of Clinton, Bonnie (Peter Greene) Nichols of Greenbank, Sandy (Ray) Tolen of Colorado, Phyllis (Kenny Furman) Lambert of Freeland, Judy (Daren) Steadman of Tennessee, and numerous aunts, uncles, nephews and nieces.

Graveside services will take place July 14, 2002 at the Bayview Cemetery at 1 p.m. A celebration of Karen’s life will be held following the service at the home of Phyllis and Kenny Furman, 2131 E. Millman Road, Freeland.