Karen Pope

Karen "Karn" Marie Pope passed away Oct. 25, 2024 at the Haxtun Extended Care Unit in Haxtun at the age of 85 after suffering a long battle with Alzheimer's.

Karn was born in Denver on Aug. 13, 1939 to Lester Albert Hansen and Agnus Vivian (McCormick/Levette) Hansen. She was the eldest of two children and was a wonderful big sister to brother, Alan. Karn grew up in Pueblo, graduated from Pueblo Central High School in 1957 and attended USC Pueblo Junior college for one year.

On June 7, 1959 she married the love of her life, Ernest W. Pope at the First Baptist Church in Pueblo. The newlyweds resided in Pueblo for the first year and a half of their marriage, and then moved to Santa Fe, N.M. After living in Santa Fe for three years, they relocated to Fort Collins, where they made their home for the next 60 years and where they raised their three sons Scott, Michael and Richard. In 2022 Karn and Ernest sold their home in Fort Collins and moved to Haxtun to be closer to their youngest son Richard.

Karn worked as a Deputy Sheriff in Larimer County and was also employed at the Colorado State University Police Department for 10 years. She worked at Sears Department Store for 30 years as a dedicated salesclerk. She was a member of many organizations including White Shrine and Eastern Star, where she served as Worthy Matron for two years in the Berthoud Chapter. She was very active with the Rainbow Girls as an Advisor and a Chapter mom to the DeMolay Boys. Karn was a dedicated member of D.A.R where she served many officer positions including Chapter Regent. She especially enjoyed researching, cataloging and taking care of the local Historical Markers. Karn loved being around people. She also enjoyed spending time with her family, traveling, collecting Indian Pottery and Kachina Dolls, Genealogy and she especially enjoyed Country Dancing with her husband Ernest.

She leaves behind her loving husband of 65 years, Ernest Pope; son Scott Pope and wife Tracy and their daughters Allison Massey and husband Steven and Sarah Cammarata and husband Matthew; Allison's children Lilly Fletcher and Maddox Pope Lee; Sarah's son Emmett Fletcher; and Lilly's son Hudson Fletcher, who is Karn's great-great grandson; son Richard Pope and his wife Tana and their children Summer Capriola and spouse John Mertz and Alan Pope and wife Kendra; Summer's children Cadince and Jack Mertz; and Alan's daughter, Amelia Pope. She is further survived by brother-in-law Lloyd Pope and wife Charlotte and family; sister-in-law Sandy Hanson Wilson and husband Jeff and family; as well as many more family members included nieces, nephews and cousins.

Karn is preceded in death by her parents Lester and Vivian; brother Lester Alan Hansen (Vietnam MIA); son Michael Pope and numerous extended family members.

Condolences may be sent to Ernest Pope, P.O. Box 433, Haxtun, CO 80731. A memorial service will be planned for a future date in 2025.