Karen (Mays) Morrison
Resident of Pismo Beach
Karen Mays Morrison passed away peacefully at her home in Pismo Beach after a brief illness, surrounded by family, friends, and Princess Annie of Limerick, her beloved Welsh Terrier on October 19, 2018 . Karen was born May 13, 1938 in Lodi, California, to a dairyman father who instilled in her a deep love of animals which was evidenced by her participation in 4H while she was in high school. Never one to do something half-hearted, Karen was named to Reign over the Jersey Cattle Club State Fair in 1953. She graduated from UC Davis at age 20, and began her teaching career at Oak Valley School in 1958. After marrying Richard (Dick) Morrison on October 6, 1962, they moved to San Jose, California, where they continued their educational careers at the Alum Rock School District. Karen taught Home Economics, which was a perfect fit for her passion of food, which was evident by the food-filled events and parties she hosted. Her annual Super Bowl party was a must attend event.
Karen cherished her friends and neighbors, remembering them with greeting cards and tailored dinner parties to their favorite requests. Karen loved her garden and was the quintessential orchid grower; she found a re-bloom was cause for celebration. She loved Stanford football, the Golden State Warriors, and the San Francisco 49ers (although recently was disenchanted with their poor organization)! She could give you stats on most playerswhether you asked for them or not. In addition to her many interests she enjoyed playing bridge weekly, and always made the perfect custom-designed table covers for the event. Karen’s love of music was enriched by the choir she attended and her cello-playing friend, Roz, who performed at Karen’s home during her illness.
Karen was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Morrison and brother Kenley Mays. She leaves behind her brother Galen, her extended family Patti, Renee, Frankie and Michael and an array of other close friends. A private gathering in her memory will be held at a later date. Donations in Karen’s honor may be made to the charity of your choice.