Karen Elizabeth Young

Karen Elizabeth Young, 83, passed away peacefully on March 12, 2025, at home near Beulah, Colorado, surrounded by her loving children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Karen left this earth for heaven to be with her beloved husband Ray, who passed one month before her. In the evenings leading up to her death, the family sang hymns and recited scripture at her bedside.

Karen Elizabeth Young (nee Burrows) was born in Ada, Oklahoma, on April 2, 1941, to Fleeta LaVaun and Jay Burrows. After her mother’s death when Karen was three, she was cared for by her father and other close relatives. At age 15, she was living with her grandparents, Alvin and Sally Murdock, in Ada, Oklahoma, in a loving and nurturing environment. She met Ray Young in Ada in 1957; they fell in love and married in May 1958. After Ray’s service in the Armed Forces, they moved to Odessa, Texas, where they reared four children.

Karen was an avid reader and passed the love of reading and words on to her children and the rest of her family. She took her children to the library frequently (in the summers, nearly every week, so that they could participate in the local library’s reading challenges). She loved reading to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren – delighting in using voices to supplement the humor or scariness of a story. She relished playing Scrabble and would help her young protegees when playing, “If you have an ‘e’ you could spell . . . ” Karen was always ready to converse with family and friends; prepared to ask about your day at school or work, favorite music you were listening to, what books you were reading, or prepared to listen to any problems you might be facing. She loved sharing coffee during these conversations, especially with her youngest son Gregg.

Karen and Ray provided a warm, caring environment for their children, which has affected generations. They loved antiquing, traveling, taking hikes, talking to each other, and holding hands.

Karen is survived by her four children, Jeff Young (Laura) of Conway, AR, Gregg Young (Jamie) of Highlands Ranch, CO, Dana McKay (Steve) of Tahoka, TX, and Laura Shumac (Daniel) of Beulah, CO; her nine grandchildren, Callie Castle, Kaylee Flowers, Colleen Sarkar, Levi McKay, Preston Young, Calder Young, Garrett Young, Phillip Moore, and McKenzie Howell; and her sixteen great-grandchildren Jeffrey Menini, J.R. Menini, Allie Menini, Landon Young, Ella Young, Maverick Young, Selah Smith, Ellah Smith, Zechariah Smith, Josiah Castle, Oakley McKay, Raya Young, Lori Flowers, Carter Flowers, Daniella Shumac, and Jocelyn Shumac. Karen is also survived by her sisters, Jennifer Pfeiffer, Janelle Burrows Rideau, Mary Jean Duval, and her brother, Jay Downey Burrows.

The family plans a small, private celebration of life. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Saint Jude, and Fight CRS.