On Monday, April 24, 2023, Karen Ann (Thropp) Deacon passed away suddenly at the age of 77.
Karen was born on Dec. 2, 1945, to Robert and Ruth (Brownell) Thropp in Santa Ana, Calif., where Bob was stationed with the Marines. Although she only lived out there less than a year, she loved to tell people she was born in California.
Karen spent the rest of her life in the San Luis Valley. She graduated as valedictorian of her class in 1964 at Sargent High School and attended Adams State College where she met her husband, Max Deacon. They married on Nov. 23, 1966, and lived in the Valley where they would raise two children, Janine and Matthew.
After a brief stint in farming with Karen’s dad, they bought Deacon’s Insurance Agency in Monte Vista in 1974 and would own and run the business together for 39 years. Max and Karen loved spending time with their children and grandchildren, traveling and enjoying time at their homes in Creede and at Navajo Lake.
After Max’s passing in 2013, Karen continued traveling, visiting family and loved watching her grandchildren’s sporting events. She also enjoyed playing bridge multiple times a week, lunching with her lady friends, volunteering at the Rio Grande Hospital and the Monte Vista Cemetery where she was also on the board. She most recently accepted a position as secretary for the Upper Rio Grande Economic Development Council. She was excited to take on this new challenge.
Karen was preceded in death by her mother, Ruth, father, Bob, husband, Max and sister, Rebecca.
She is survived by her daughter, Janine (Andy) White, son, Matthew (Kazie) Deacon, six grandchildren, Kyle and Heath (White) and Jacob, Rebecca and Catie (Deacon) and Charlie Hayes, sister Christina (Thropp) Jesperson, brother-in-law, Tom Gray and stepmother, Yvonne Thropp.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 29, 2023, graveside. Please meet at the Chapel at the Monte Vista Cemetery at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers the family has asked for donations to be made in Karen’s name to the Monte Vista Cemetery Association. Donations can be mailed to P0 Box 43, Monte Vista, CO 81144.
