Karen Lee Monroe was born on February 13, 1949 in Los Angeles, California to John W. and Dorothy M. Stevens. She was called to be with our Lord on August 6, 2018 in Justin, Texas surrounded by family. Karen grew up in Bell Gardens, California where she attended Bell Gardens Highschool and was active in her high school band. She enjoyed going to the beach and spending time with her family and friends. She met the love of her life on the beach before her senior year at school, and they soon married. They started a family which was her pride and joy. A loving wife and mother she raised four children. Karen was a den mother for Cub scouts, involved in the PTA, and was active in Jobs Daughters and DeMolay. She participated in and went to many numerous extracurricular activities for her children such as volleyball practices, games, and tournaments, basketball practices and games, track and cross-country practices, meets and events, soccer practices and games, band, choir and Ensemble practices, performances and parades. She enjoyed camping and motorcycle riding in the desert with her family. She loved sewing, crocheting, quilting, crafting, and drawing and teaching her children and grandchildren how to do these activities as well. She made doll clothes, and her daughters prom dresses and many formal dresses. She was a Past Worthy Matron of Eastern Star and was involved with the Masonic Lodge in Downey, California. She held a few jobs while she was raising her children, she was a secretary, drove a school bus for disabled kids, went to school and became a CNA. When her children had all grown Karen and her husband became OTR truck drivers. They traveled the United States and Canada delivering loads. She loved that she was paid to sightsee the country and could see her children at any time. Karen loved her family deeply; her husband, children and grandchildren were the light of her life. She enjoyed having her grandson on the truck during the summers. She would point out landmarks and tell stories to engage his creativity and keep their minds active. She taught her granddaughters to crochet and was starting sewing lessons. She enjoyed playing games with them, coloring and watching them play. She encouraged exploration of the imagination through telling stories and crafting worlds beyond the imagination. She encouraged her grandchildren to assist her in the kitchen cooking. Her signature dish, tacos, gathered friends and family alike as they broke shells and enjoyed each other’s company. She was always giving and encouraging her children and grandchildren to not put limits on their abilities or dreams. She had a great sense of humor and would often send job applications from all over the country to her children. She would call right after midnight to wish her children happy birthday, then they would receive many birthday cards from all over. She would frequently pull harmless pranks on family, like papering her daughters’ home when she got married. She continued to learn by listening to audio books as she drove. She wanted to keep the fun in life and share it with her family. She had recently lost her service dog Max, whom helped her through many tough times. She would joke that Max was her other son and was her favorite child. Karen was preceded in death by her parents and daughter Kristine Joy Monroe Bezner. She is survived by husband Charles H. Monroe of fifty-one years, her children Charles Monroe, Terri Haun, Michael Monroe (Faith), sister Joyce Sant and grandchildren Landon Jordan (Michela), Chandler Bezner, Reiff Haun, Sequoia Haun, Lilli Haun, Trinity Haun, Nicholas Monroe, Allison Monroe, Jacob Monroe, Marcus Monroe, Lillyana Monroe and Kathryn Monroe. The world lost a beautiful light-hearted soul, she left her mark and she is now in the arms of Jesus. Her family will have a celebration of life gathering in the near future. Offer Condolence for the family of Karen Lee Monroe Reply, Reply All or Forward Send