The two most important things in life to Karen Eileen Crum were her family and her faith. Born a daughter to William and Marguerite Wolfe on September 21, 1962, she grew up in Arvada, Colorado with her twin sister Kristine and younger sister Michele. Karen was kind, loyal, organized, and intelligent as she graduated with honors from Marycrest High School then Colorado State University where she studied history.

She married Timothy Crum and they started their family together in Spokane, Washington, after briefly living on Edwards Air Force Base where Karen used her creative talents to stage exhibits at Lancaster Museum of Art and History. She devoted herself to marriage, motherhood, and service to the Catholic church and her community. She lovingly raised four children, Sean, Emily, Rebecca and Richard, along with three family dogs. Karen joyfully and generously served many people, both friends and strangers, in her community through volunteering and eventually teaching at Assumption Parish School where she touched the lives of everyone she met. She was an honest and true friend and her compassionate and understanding demeanor made her a trusted confidant. She inspired others to deepen their faith by quietly leading by example.

She was an artist and enjoyed creating beautiful homemade cards and calendars, cooking, and having tea parties with her friends and daughters. She spent quality time hiking outdoors with her husband and dogs.

On November 13th, 2021, Karen passed away in her home with her husband and daughter holding her hand. Throughout the challenges that life brought her way, Karen's faith sustained and comforted her. She handled a 3 year journey with ALS with grace. Once a selfless wife and mother, it became her well-deserved turn to be taken care of by her family. Though the demands of caregiving took some toll, Karen was able to pull strained fibers of her family together by her very nature. She demonstrated grit through it all. She never complained and remained steadfast in her love for life and God. That's what made her a remarkable wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, and saint. Donations can be made to ALSSO Spokane and Caritas Outreach Ministries in her memory.

Vigil with Rosary Service will be Thursday, November 18, 2021 at 7pm at Assumption Catholic Church, 3624 W. Indian Trial Road, Spokane, WA. Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday, November 19, 2021 at 11am also at Assumption Catholic Church. She will be laid to rest at Holy Cross Cemetery. Online memorials can be made at www.holycrossofspokane.org