Karen Sue Brown

Karen Cooper Brown, 70 of Tempe, AZ passed away January 5, 2018 surrounded by her adoring family. She will be remembered for her accepting, giving nature and genuine kindness. Karen was born July 18, 1947 in Ottumwa, Iowa to Everett and Marjorie (Hampton) Cooper. The family moved to Phoenix when Karen was a toddler and grew to include two brothers and a sister. Karen met and married the love of her life, J.B. Brown in 1970. Their marriage combined her daughter with JB’s four children, then adding another daughter to complete her family. Karen and JB enjoyed entertaining, hosting countless gatherings for friends and family, never missing an opportunity to celebrate life. Karen’s pride and joy was being a wife and mother. Karen loved to cook and as the family grew, every holiday was an opportunity to fill their home with five generations of family. She had an adventurous spirit, trying her hand at hang gliding, bungee jumping and sky diving later in life. She especially enjoyed the movies and every family member knew she deemed even the worst to be excellent, a trait loved by her family. She adored her grandchildren. As they grew she always attended school events and always had time for them. Karen made everyone, young or old, friend, family, or stranger feel special. Countless people shared with family members over the years how she had supported them and made them feel special. Survivors include her husband J.B. Brown, daughters Dori (Bill) Marinakis, Shannon Brown, Dara (Harvey) Gibson, Lisa (Scott) Durfee, Robyn (Mark) Tarity, son Paul Brown, her father Everett Cooper, brothers Lee Cooper and Blake (Denise) Cooper, her sister Kathy Koehler, seven nieces and nephews, twelve grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Karen’s love, kindness, compassion, the capacity at which she warmed lives and made people feel extraordinary will be missed. She touched so many lives in special ways. A celebration of Karen’s life will be held Saturday, February 17th, 2018 at 1PM at the home of Dara & Harvey Gibson, 1848 E Sesame St, Tempe. Donations in her name may be made to Lost Our Home Pet Foundation, 2323 Hardy Dr., Tempe AZ 85282. https://www.lostourhome.org/support/donate. Richardson Funeral Home, Tempe, Arizona is compassionately serving the family.

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Celebration of Life

Saturday February 17th, 2018

1:00pm

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