Karen Kay (Anderson) DeLeon
Marriages
Richard DeLeon
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 3D Obituary - June 18, 2017
Karen Kay Anderson
DeLeon
February 1, 1949 - May 22, 2017
Karen Kay Anderson
DeLeon, 68, originally of
Palisade, CO, passed away on
May 22, 2017, in Lihue,
Kauai, HI, surrounded by her
loving family, after a long
battle with lung disease.
The youngest daughter of
five sisters born to Carl and
Helen (Bizer) Anderson, she
led a storied and interesting
life. Karen’s passions led her
to Hawaii where she met her
future husband, Richard
DeLeon, while protesting in
support of Native Hawaiian
rights. Hawaii is where her
three children were born and
raised until she and her family
relocated to several states on
the Mainland, before moving
back to Hawaii in 1994,
where she remained. Always a Colorado girl at heart, she
traveled back as often as possible and spent many happy
summers with her kids there.
Karen had a talented ear for music and loved to sing and
dance. She was honest to a fault, the life of every party and her
favorite thing to do was laugh. She was also a devoted Catholic
and a proud Democrat. Karen carried many titles over the years,
but the ones she was most proud of were Mother and
Grandmother. Her children were her self-proclaimed greatest
achievements in life and her grandchildren, her greatest joy.
She is survived by her husband of 38 years, Richard DeLeon
of Maui; her three children and their spouses, Mana’olano (Rob)
Perkins of Cary, NC; Noe (Jacob) Kellow of Kauai, HI, and
Kalo (Tiffany) DeLeon of Maui, HI; six grandchildren, Ikaika
and Kekoa Perkins, Kaloku’o and Kaleo Kellow, and Kala’i and
Kawena DeLeon; sisters, Patricia (Doug) Dean of Grand
Junction, CO; Carol Hiebert of Grand Junction, CO, and Mary
Bein of Spokane, WA; many nieces and nephews, and last, but
not least, her beloved companion puppy, Makena. She was
preceded in death by her parents; step-father, Bill Weaver, and
sister, Sylvia Musso.
A small memorial took place on Maui, HI on May 27 to
celebrate Karen’s life and another service will be held in
Colorado at a date to be determined. Her final wish was to be
brought back "home" to Colorado to rest in eternal peace. She
was loved by many and will be missed.
Online condolences can be sent to "Karen’s Helping Hands" .