Karen Kay Barsanti passed away on Monday, December 23, 2024 at Mercy Hospital in Redding with her husband and children at her side.

Karen was born on July 10, 1941 in Brush, Colorado to Catherine and Merle Warden. The Wardens moved to California and resided in Carlotta for many years, where Karen attended Cuddeback Elementary and graduated from Fortuna Union High School in 1958. It was when Karen was helping in the kitchen during a dance at the Carlotta Grange Hall that I (Richard) asked her to dance. A short time later, Karen invited me to the sweetheart ball at Fortuna High School. We were married on February 17, 1962, then traveled to Fayetteville, North Carolina where Richard was stationed in the Army.

Upon his discharge they returned to California and resided in Scotia for a little while, then purchased their first and only home in Fortuna in 1964. Karen was employed by Crocker National Bank, working through its many changes until it became US Bank, from which she retired.

She enjoyed gardening and bird-watching, the Giants baseball games as well as the 49er’s football team. She enjoyed a couple of cruises to the Mediterranean with her husband and friends and their many trips to Arizona to see her sister Karma and her nieces and nephew. At home Karen enjoyed going to all the local basketball, baseball and football games to watch all the kids she and I got to know over the years. Writing down their names and uniform numbers, keeping score, fouls, won/loss records and points each kid scored. These are recorded in the many notebooks she kept her entire life. She also enjoyed her monthly excursions to Starbucks with her friends.

Karen is survived by her husband Richard of 63 years, her son Ryan and daughter Becci(Tim), the lights of her life, grandchildren Teghan and Hacher, her nieces Cathy Mader(Jeff), Della and Joe Bellum., her great-nieces Abigail and Annabelle, great-nephew Bryson.

She was preceded in death by her parents Catherine and Merle Warden, and her sister and brother-in-law, Karma and Robert Bellum. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, April 12, 2025 at 2 p.m. at the Rio Dell Fire Hall. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a charity of your choice.

###

The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Karen Barsanti’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.