Karen L. Rawnsley

Published 3:22 pm Monday, June 4, 2018

Dec. 16, 1946 – May 24, 2018

Karen L. Rawnsley passed away May 24, 2018, in Bend, Oregon. Karen was born December 16, 1946, in Long Beach, CA, to Robert and Lissia McWhorter.

She married her husband, Richard (Dick) Rawnsley in 1967, and through the course of their 33 year marriage, resided primarily in Washington and Oregon. In 1993, they relocated to Bend, OR. Dick preceded her in death in November of 2000.

Karen was a dedicated and devoted lifelong public servant primarily in higher education; her current position was serving as the Deputy Director of the Oregon Military Department Youth Challenge Program. She served as the Assistant Director of Facilities as well as Co-Comptroller of The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA. Karen loved ballroom dancing and was active in volunteer work related to Alzheimers.

Karen is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Patrick and Monique Rawnsley, of Olympia, WA, her brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Jane McWhorter, of Bend, OR, her grand-daughter, Elizabeth, of Bend, OR, a niece, Jennifer Coakley of Woodbridge VA and a niece, Erin Donnell of Bend, OR. In addition to her husband, she was preceded by her brother, William “Rusty” McWhorter.

No memorial services or gatherings will be held and donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to Bethlehem Inn (bethleheminn.org/donate/monetary-donations/) or to the Three Rivers Humane Society (threerivershs.org/donate-3/).