Karen’s passing was very unexpected, leaving her family with beautiful memories and deep loss and grief. 

Karen Marie Mason entered this world on October 6, 1951, in East St. Louis, Illinois, to her proud parents, William Lockwood Mason Sr. and Thelma Elizabeth (Remington) Mason. Her parents later chose to relocate to Southern California, where they raised Karen with her sisters Janice and Theresa and brother William Jr. Karen enjoyed a happy and healthy childhood. She was a bright and inquisitive student graduating from Sunny Hills High School in Fullerton, CA. 

In 1969, she met and married Dennis Eugene Murphy, with whom she celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary in November 2023. In 1970, Karen delivered her daughter Deanna, and then in 1975, Karen welcomed her son Sevren.

Professionally, Karen used her clerical skills in positions with various local companies. Karen spent many years with Hughes Aircraft before she moved from that company to become the Office Manager for a recording studio, Rocshire Records. Unfortunately, the label collapsed soon after it began, and Karen started a position at Hunt’s in Fullerton as an executive secretary in the Research and Development department. 

Karen spent many years with Hunts, which in 1990 was sold to Conagra Foods. During her time with Conagra, Karen took an interest in becoming more active in the company’s labor union. She was passionate about contract negotiations and always strived to improve the benefits provided to Conagra’s employees. Soon after the company moved her position to Irvine, Karen left Conagra to pursue more local employment. That pursuit led her through several assignments with temporary employment staffing agencies until she retired.

Karen was blessed with two grandsons, Nicholas and Mitchell. She loved both boys deeply and enjoyed being “Gran.” She loved having family get-togethers where she could be surrounded by people so dear to her heart. 

She and her husband Dennis had great adventures traveling together, visiting friends in Idaho, family in New York, and exploring other places that piqued their interest. Karen had deep faith in her relationship with her Savior, Jesus Christ. A particularly meaningful verse to her was Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” 

She is survived by her husband, Dennis; daughter and son-in-law, Deanna and Erik Brake; son and daughter-in-law, Sevren and Karyn Murphy; grandson and granddaughter-in-law, Nicholas and Joselyn Gomez; and grandson and granddaughter-in-law, Mitchell and Alicia Gomez.

 Karen is also survived by her sisters and their husbands: Janice and Ron Knolls, Theresa and Mike Hilty, and her brother William Mason Jr.

In lieu of flowers, please donate in Karen’s memory to The National MS Society, PO Box #91891, Washington D. C., 20090​–1891, http://www.nationalmssociety.org.