Karen Lee Brown

Longtime Alaskan Karen Lee Brown, 70, died March 31, 2011, at Providence Extended Care Center in Anchorage after a long illness.

A celebration of life is at 2 p.m., May 15 at La Cabana restaurant, 312 E. 4th Ave., Anchorage.

Karen was born Sept. 24, 1940, in Plattsburg, N.Y., to Harold and Lucille Bouyea. She moved to Alaska with her family in 1970 from New York.

She worked at Anchorage Community Hospital, Humana Hospital, Debenham Electric and then for neurologists Dr. Janice Kastella and Dr. Tom Gordon for many years until she retired in 2002.

She enjoyed many activities, decorative painting, crocheting, beautiful ceramics and intricate woodworking. Karen could make a Dremel tool work like an extension of her finger. She was also an accomplished bowler with a 200-point average. Karen enjoyed visiting with family and friends and loved animals.

Karen is survived by her sister, Nancy (Charles) Murphy; her three children and their spouses, James (Julie) Lackey of Kenai, Jeffrey (Patty) Lackey of Anchorage and Katherine Lackey of Wasilla; grandchildren, Trisha (Aaron) Trenton, Jessica, Nichole (Earnest), Terrell, Jaime, Shannon and Jennifer; great-grandchildren, Sabrena, Cali, Conner and Jaci. Surviving also are many nieces and nephews and her beloved dog, Nikki.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Robert.

Arrangements were by Cremation Society of Alaska.