Karen Lee Johnson Obituary (1951 - 2024)

Born Jun 20, 1951, Karen Lee Johnson attended Moon High School in Moon Township, PA. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Karen Lee Johnson.

Graduation Year	Class of 1969
Date of Birth	Jun 20, 1951
Date of Passing	May 08, 2024
About	Karen Lee Johnson, a cherished free spirit with strawberry blonde hair and freckles, bid farewell to this world on May 8, 2024, in Pittsburgh, Pa., at the age of 72. She was born on June 20, 1951, in Riverdale, North Dakota. While growing up, she and her 3 siblings moved every 2 years, following their father’s engineering career. In every location, their childhood was spent exploring the surrounding countryside, which laid the foundation for her love of adventure and discovery. Her sister recalls that when they lived in Grand Marais, Minnesota, the two of them pretended that the roof of a chicken coop was a stage and would sing endless variations of “Que Sera, What Will Be, Will Be.” She and her brothers imagined large fallen trees as pirate ships. In Canada, they built ice igloos and made the front yard into a skating rink. Walks along Lake Superior in Grand Marias, Minnesota brought discoveries of ancient arrowheads and shining agates. Their mother educated them in each location by taking them on tours of area highlights: cereal factories in Michigan stockyards in St. Paul, Minnesota, Plimouth Plantation in Massachusetts. The young family eventually settled in Pittsburgh, Pa., where their father was the first project engineer for the construction of the point. All children swam and competed with the Coraopolis YMCA swim team. Karen won awards for her high diving skills. While attending Moon High School, she trained as a contralto soprano and delighted in loudly belting out the hymns at the Presbyterian Church. After graduating from Wooster College in Ohio, Karen's passion for nurturing young minds led her to the Marietta, Ohio, HeadStart teaching program, where she eventually became a states traveling consultant who supported the futures of countless children. Another of her journeys had her owning a restaurant in Mexico, but soon, her adventurous spirit led her to San Diego, where she thrived as a successful business consultant. She was a world traveler. In her final years, Karen returned to Pittsburgh to care for her aging parents. Her presence brought comfort to her family during their twilight years. Karen is preceded in death by her parents, Beryl and Rodney Johnson, and her brother, Bruce Johnson. She is survived by her sister Christine (Thomas Higgins) of Brunswick, Maine, her brother Mark Johnson of Denver, Colorado, and her niece, Erin Henderson (Robert Henderson), great-niece, Caitlin Henderson, and great-nephew, Adam Henderson, Londonderry New Hampshire, and nephew Brendan Higgins, Readfield, Maine. A true lover of animals, Karen's heart was always open to the furry companions in her life – she called them her “kids”. Whether it was the comforting purr of a cat or the boundless energy of a dog, she found joy in their presence.
Events	In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the SPCA or an animal shelter dear to your heart. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Karen Lee Johnson, please visit our floral store.