Karen Marie Garvin

After a life of love and service, Karen Marie Browning Garvin passed away peacefully on Sunday morning, May 15, 2016 from heart failure.

Karen was born on June 14, 1949 to Grover and Orsena Browning in Rexburg, Idaho. Growing up on the family farm near Newdale, Idaho, she struggled throughout her childhood with health difficulties related to polio and heart problems. She had her first of several heart surgeries at the age of 14, but she persevered despite those challenges and devoted much of her time to school studies and music practice. She played the saxophone and later the piano.

The second of four children, Karen left home after graduating from Sugar Salem High School to pursue her education. She attended Ricks College before completing her bachelor's degree in elementary education at Idaho State University. It was during this time that she met her husband and love of her life, Philip (Skip) Alan Garvin. They were married in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on June 2, 1971. They settled in the Tyhee area outside of Pocatello where they built their own home and raised their six children.

Karen was a devoted wife and loving mother, and she dedicated much of her time to caring for her children and home. She loved gardening and music and shared her talents with her children. In her later years, she also enjoyed working with the children in the community as a teacher at Tyhee Elementary School. Karen was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held many callings where she selflessly served others.

Karen loved her grandchildren and found joy in helping them read and learn. She enjoyed the time spent with family playing games, camping, singing, cooking, traveling, and celebrating holidays. She was a wonderful listener, and her children will miss the many long talks and encouragement she so readily gave.

Among her many excellent qualities, she was loving, kind, hard-working, intelligent, humble, and selfless. She always put the welfare of others before her own. She will be remembered for her compassionate service as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, and friend.

Karen is preceded in death by her mother Orsena, father-in-law Joseph, mother-in-law Shirley, and grandchildren, Jeffy and Emily. She is survived by her husband Skip; her children Daniel (Melanie), Chubbuck, ID, Angela (Steven) Jackson, Nampa, ID, Janice (Aaron) Whitman, Nampa, ID, Jeffrey (April), Pocatello, ID, J.D. (Mona), Las Vegas, NV, Karee, San Francisco, CA; her 16 grandchildren; her father Grover Browning; and her siblings Kirk, Lillian, and Bart (Corene).

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 23, 2016 at the Tyhee LDS Stake Center located at 12146 W. Tyhee Rd. A viewing will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 22, 2016 at Wilks Funeral Home 211 W. Chubbuck Rd. and one hour prior to services at the church on Monday. Interment will follow services in the Teton-Newdale Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family online at wilksfuneralhome.com.