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Light a Candle
Karen Stefanick Verner, 76, from Covington, Washington passed away suddenly March 14 from cardiac arrest. Born in Walla Walla, March 24, 1945, to Edward and Kathryn Verner, she spent her growing up years in the Seattle Rainier Beach area, graduating in the first senior class from Rainier Beach High School in 1963. Karen is preceded in death by her parents Edward and Kathyrn Verner and is survived by brother Joe Verner, and wife Mary Hammerly, husband Mike Stefanick and children, Jeff Stefanick, Jennifer Stefanick, Julie Verner, Scott Verner, Travis Verner, Brett Verner and many other family relatives Karen married Mike Stefanick, a Michigan transplant on Memorial Day weekend (Friday, May 26) in 1976 at the home of Hans and Martha Losnegard on Puget Sound. They were married for 46 years, shared a love of education and creative pursuits which strengthened their bonds and made them a very happy couple. Karen continued her education at the University of Washington and completed her degree in Education from Central Washington University, obtaining a teaching certificate in Secondary Teaching. She taught for 8 1/2 years in the Highline School District at Mt. Rainier High School, Social Studies Department. She then spent 20 years in the Kent School District teaching at both Kentridge and Kent Lake High Schools. Karen had a strong sense of herself that led her to offer a Women’s Study course in the early 1970’s, one of the first in the area. Additionally, she taught World History, American History, Psychology and Government. Karen had a passion for sewing that began in junior high school. Her mother sewed, and after she took a sewing class Karen was never without a sewing machine. In the early years she honed her skills and did projects that challenged her sewing ability. Her husband Mike had wool shirts as a testament to that! When she retired in 2000 her first major move was to join the Clothing and Textile Advisor (CTA) group. During these years her creative capacity grew enormously, especially in quilting and embroidery. She took on a personal project to make all the younger kids significant in her life a quilt as a present for their high school graduation. The last grandson, Mason, class of 2022, is no exception. She finished the bulk of his quilt before she died, her close friend Lana Leucshow has put the last touches to the quilt as a gift to Karen and to Mason. Many friends and family wear the aprons she made, and many children have “blankies” and stuffed animals crafted for them. The family wishes to thank the Clothing and Textile Advisors for their generous hosting of Karen Verner’s Celebration of Life will be at the Waller Grange( 2708 E 64th St, Tacoma, WA 98404) on Friday May 20, 2022 beginning at 1:00pm followed by Remembrances until about 3pm (please bring items Karen made or printed photos of projects that you can share). In lieu of flowers, we ask that you consider donating to the Clothing and Textile Advisors of Pierce County(http://www.ctaspierceco.com/index.html) this is the CTA group that Karen belonged to for over 20 years, they have ongoing donation projects, most are “made” items such as beanies given to cancer patients; they also instruct on a lot of projects, including a kids Summer School program. Please send to PCCTA Treasurer, c/o Judy Versey, 130 R St SE Unit A, Auburn, WA 98002
