Karen K. Aase, our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, sister and friend went home to the Lord July 31, 2026 after a long battle with an illness that deprived her of so many of life's little joys, but even in her final days she still had a smile and a good story to share because "no good story starts with a salad."

Born December 27, 1951 to Harry & Stella (Dyer) Gerjets in Bellingham, Washington. She spent much of her childhood in Maple Falls, which her mother had convinced her was the end of the earth. She graduated Mount Baker High School, then married Roger W. Aase and started their family at a young age. They had three beautiful daughters. Karen worked as a rope maker for Powers Twine for several years, then became a stay at home mom. Not only was she handy with a sewing machine, making cute matching outfits for her and the girls, she was also an early entrepreneur making cute items for various craft fairs. She also enjoyed sketching, hand embroidery, and coloring books as other ways of creating. In her early days she had a house full of plants, and a full garden of flowers and vegetables. Later in life she became interested in nature photography, thus began a lifetime pursuit of the perfect photo opportunity for the perfect sunrise, sunset, moon rise, mountain reflection and everything in between. Karen was also known for her deep friendships, connections with those whom she loved, and her warm inviting smile. Oftentimes becoming people's "grandma" or "other mom", she shared so much love with so many people. For ten years she worked as a dining room attendant, caring for the elderly at the center that she would eventually move to and spend her final year and a half of her life. She will be buried at Greenacres.

Karen is preceded in death by: her mother Stella (Aug. 1995), her father Harry (Feb. 2000), step-son Anthony (June 1981), brother Jerry (2012), ex-husband Roger (April 2015).

She is survived by her three daughters, Julie DeBruin, Jade Sines, and Jennifer Aase, her grandchildren, Zackery Jones, Sabrina Aase, Natasha Lee, Elizabeth Hugo, and Starla Aase, her great-grandchildren, Zoey Jones, Jaxson Jones, Katarina Aase-Messina, Lily Lee, Nora Lee, Juni Lee, her sister Janet Butenscheoen, her brother's Andrew and John Pinkey and numerous nieces and nephews. Her legacy continues to grow with a new great-granddaughter expected in November from Starla.