KAREN LYNN RUTHERFORD (Rutherford) EVANOFF
Marriages
John Hyre - 1971
divorced in 1981
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 6C - March 14, 2010
Steamboat Today - March 21, 2010
Karen Lynn Evanoff died March 10, 2010, near Hayden from injuries received when the car in which she was riding was struck by a falling rock. She was 55.
Karen was born March 11, 1954, in Hayden, the daughter of Loren and Dorris (Rue) Rutherford. She was raised and attended school in Craig.
Karen married John Hyre in Kentucky in 1971, and they became the parents of two boys.
Karen and John were divorced after 10 years of marriage, and she became acquainted with Rich Evanoff. They later parted, and she became the significant other to Timothy Heythaler, and they became the parents of a daughter and a son. Karen spent most of her life in Craig, living in Grand Junction and Texas for short periods. She was a housekeeper in Steamboat Springs for the past 27 years, working for the Sheraton Steamboat Resort and then Mountain Resorts. Before working in Steamboat, Karen worked for various other hotels, including the Holiday Inn in Craig.
Karen loved animals and flowers and enjoyed music, going to the Rock Jam concerts, cooking, putting on family dinners and watching the Rachael Ray cooking show.
Karen is survived by her daughter, Sadie Heythaler, of Craig; her sons Faron (Misty) Hyre, of Amarillo, Texas; Dane Hyre, of Denver; and Levi Heythaler, of Craig; her grandchildren Sarah, Alexandria, Laci, Addyson, Avery, Noelle and Dillon; her mother, Dorris Graham, of Fruita; her sister Laura Coen; her significant other, Gary Sweet, of Powell, Wyo.; and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her father, Loren, her sister Brenda Hillewaert, her brother, Steven, her grandparents and her stepfather, James Graham.
A funeral service was held March 15, 2010, at the Grant Mortuary Chapel with Tom Connor officiating. Cremation took place after the services. Memorial donations may be made to the Humane Society of Moffat County in care of Grant Mortuary.
