Karen Willene Damon passed away March 17, 2020 at The Denver Hospice Inpatient Care Center with family present. Karen was born June 26, 1946 in Ketchikan, Alaska. Karen was the daughter of Richard Perry Comstock and Gladys Willene (Billie) Heltzel-Comstock who both predeceased her. Karen is survived by her husband James R. Damon. She was married to Jim for over 52 years. They had one child. Karen grew up in Washington State and graduated from Eastern Washington State College in 1968. After travels for military service, the family settled in Oregon where she began a teaching career in Day Care, Pre-school and Mt Hood Community College Head Start programs. She earned a teaching degree from the University of Portland in 1981 and taught Kindergarten and First Grade for the Portland Public Schools. She taught young children for over 32 years in Portland. Throughout her life Karen enjoyed traveling historical sites in the Pacific Northwest and along the original Oregon Trail. After retirement she moved to Colorado to be with family and spend time with her two granddaughters. She also extensively traveled and explored Colorado over the past several years. Karen was a volunteer for Reach Out and Read Colorado, Rocky Mountain Youth Clinics, and was a long-time volunteer docent at Denver’s Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Art.
Even though Karen lived with cancer and its treatments for the last 5 years of her life; she remained a focused, determined, caring and loving person devoted to her family as well as friends.
Along with her husband, Karen is also survived by Tony Damon (Son), Carrie Bofenkamp-Damon (Daughter-in-law), and Eliza Damon (Granddaughter) and Annika Damon (Granddaughter) of Denver, CO; Dixie Comstock-Carlson (Sister) of St. Louis, MO; Margaret Damon-Cobb (Sister-in- law) (Milt) of Yakima, WA; David Damon (Brother-in-law) (Vicki) of Seattle, WA; nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
Considering the national COVID-19 health crisis, funeral services and celebration of Karen’s life will take place on a date yet to be determined, in Portland, Oregon.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in Karen’s name to either:
The Denver Hospice 501 S. Cherry Street, Suite 700 Denver, Colorado 80246
Or
University of Colorado Hospital Cancer Center Fund 2400 S. Peoria St. Suite 100 Aurora, CO 80014
