Karen Ann (Pearson) Bishop used to enjoy joking that, “Only the good die young, so I may never die.” Fortunately for Heaven, she was too good to live forever. Sadly for her family, on Friday, July 31, 2020, Karen, 75, changed her residence from Homer, Alaska to Heaven.

She was born Feb 25, 1945 in Des Moines, IA to Max Pearson and Jessie Baird. The family moved from Iowa to Whittier, CA in 1958 where Karen spent the next 42 years. In 1993 she visited Alaska and fell in love with the state. Several years later, in 2000, she was thrilled to leave CA in her rear-view mirror as she drove up the AlCan with her son and her dog Buddy, and made Alaska her home. She believed everyone should love Alaska as much as she did, and would often send books and other Alaska-themed gifts to her family and friends who were not fortunate enough to live in Alaska. We’re still not sure if she was trying to persuade everyone to move up there, but we think that was her goal.

Family, faith, and friends were what she loved most in life. She was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1975, serving many people in many ways throughout her life. One of her favorite callings was serving as the Blazer leader to a group of rowdy but wonderful young boys when she lived in La Mirada, CA. It was the one calling she often brought up throughout the years as she would recall one antic or another that ‘her’ boys had pulled.

Among her other favorites in life were talking (she was a long-time member of Toastmasters), reading (she left behind enough books to start a small library), hockey (she was a season ticket holder for the Alaska Aces for many years), moose (who often hung out in – and even gave birth in – her yard), bears (who did NOT visit her yard), quotes (she left behind a number of journals with her favorite quotes), singing (she sang in many church choirs, and was a member of Sweet Adelines in CA in the early 1990s), and good, clean humor.

No matter how she was feeling, she always tried to leave those who crossed her path with a smile. Even to her last days and hours of life, she was still joking with family, friends, and hospital workers.  

Everywhere she lived – La Mirada, Ventura, Redlands, Anchorage, Homer – she always gathered new friends who, more often than not, became lifelong besties.

Karen was preceded in death by her father, Max W. Pearson; mother, Jessie Anna Baird; and brother, Ronald Pearson.

Karen is survived by her daughter Sheri Bishop Thornton (Robert), son Sheridan Bishop IV (Sabrina); grandchildren Joseph Thornton, Onyx Bishop Knapman, Elizabeth Bishop, and Katherine Thornton Costa; four great grandchildren; and her loyal, beloved dog Boomer.

Her family expresses their deepest gratitude to all of the caregivers, medical staff, and friends who looked out for her and took care of her during her last year of life.

In keeping with Karen’s wishes, there will be no funeral or memorial service, and her body will be cremated. Those who wish to honor her memory are encouraged to look for opportunities to help others and make them smile.