Karen Joy Gillett

Published 12:18 am Tuesday, April 28, 2015

July 20, 1958 – April 19, 2015

Karen Joy Gillett of Powell Butte, Oregon, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her family on April 19, 2015. She was 56.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, April 25, 2015, at 1:00 p.m., at Redmond Christian

Church, located at 536 SW 10th Street in Redmond, Oregon.

Karen was born July 20, 1958, in Redmond, Oregon, to Clifton and Charlotte McDonald. She grew up in Central Oregon, graduating from Crook County High School in 1976. In 1978, she graduated with an associates degree in health sciences from Central Oregon Community College.

She married Donald Lee Gillett on June 24, 1978, in Powell Butte, Oregon, and gave birth to her daughter, Nycol, in 1979.

Karen was an accomplished writer who enjoyed painting, sewing, quilting and collecting everything related to Holstein cows. Always a country girl she enjoyed the great outdoors, riding horses, spending time on the Oregon coast and camping with family and friends.

For the past thirty-five years, Karen has been an active member of the Redmond Christian Church, never missing a Sunday. Her deeply held faith and her heart for service and ministry led her to teach Sunday school and be active with the womens ministry leading a weekly bible study and planning numerous activities and retreats.

Karens memory lives on with her parents, Cliff and Charlotte McDonald; her husband, Don; her daughter, Nycol; and four grandchildren, Marissa, Aubrey, Brooke, and Anthony. Her memory is also held by her three sisters, Mona, Robin, and Juli; and their brother, Mark.

Believing deeply that family isnt merely defined by flesh and blood but by the love you give to others she will also be remembered by her seven adopted grandchildren, and four adopted great- grandchildren, along with countless others she also considered to be her brothers and sisters in Christ.

Memorial contributions in Karens memory may be sent to The Breast Cancer Society, 6859 E. Rembrandt Ave., Suite 128, Mesa, AZ 85212

Autumn Funerals of Redmond has been entrusted with the arrangements, (541) 504-9485. www.autumnfunerals.net

Karen Gillett