Karen Lee Wagstaff
October 18, 1952 - August 15, 2020
Karen Lee Wagstaff
Our loving Mother, Grandma, Great Grandma, Friend, and Significant other returned home to her heavenly father and many others waiting on the other side, peacefully surrounded by family on August 15th, 2020 to begin a new dawn.
Mom was born a twin on October 18th, 1952 to Audrey JoAnn Lemmon and Paul Leland Wagstaff. She is a daughter of the Utah pioneers and a member of the LDS Church. As she grew up, she successfully graduated from Murray High school and attended business college in California. She married James S. Rich and had three beautiful daughter’s; Monica Lee Rich, Shauna Ann Rich Smith, and Jamie Lynn Rich Maw, later divorced. She raised her children throughout California and Utah.
Mom dedicated her life to her children and grandchildren. She taught us the value of hard work, wisdom, compassion and faith. She was known for having unconditional love, a strong and independent woman, playful personality, golden locks and hazel brown eyes. She had a bright smile who brought all that knew her joy and her keen sense of humor attracted many lifelong friends. She comforted us all, giving us courage and hope. She enjoyed spending time with family, traveling, camping, site seeing, dancing, and hanging out with her fur baby Max. Her greatest joy was her grandchildren who remember her most for being the family matriarch with a gypsy soul, the coolest grandma and confidant. She spent much of her time with them outdoors having adventures.
Her lasting legacy is her beloved family. She is survived by her daughter Monica Rich; Shauna Smith, grandchildren Trinity Karr (Ammon), and Verron Paul Smith; daughter Jamie Maw, grandson Casen James Maw; Her great grandson Solomon Karr and great granddaughter Karr due November. Survived by her brother Bruce Wagstaff, twin sister Sharen Ottley (Roland), brothers Brent Wagstaff, Billy Wagstaff, and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents Paul & JoAnn.
A special thank you to her sweetheart Joe Todoran for caring and loving her and their furbaby Max. Max was always by her side, whom she loved dearly and told all of her secrets.
The family would like to thank all of her family and friends who have shown amazing grace, love, and support. As well as her caregivers at The Holy Cross, Salt Lake Regional Hospital for their tender loving care. We will be announcing mom’s Celebration of Life ceremony, and graveside service at Sandy City Cemetery at a later date through the Starks Funeral Parlor in Salt Lake City website.
In Loving Memory
I send many hugs and blessing to all. Wish I would of got to know her more. May she lay i. Peace and harmony. From stacey lozoya
You have been a treasure from the first time I met you at Rocky’s on state street back in 1996. We did a ton of line dancing back then, lol. Then reuniting and taking you and your daughters out to Wendover, Nv to get grinder on and enjoy some on stage LAP DANCES!! Oh my dearest friend , I will miss you so very much!!! Until we meet again reserve me a gorgeous Long hair, ok? Love you smiley!! Maria
Karen was always so cheerful and loving. I will miss her smile and the love she gave Max and my brother Joe. I know she was so proud of her daughters and grand kids. She had a good heart and will be truly missed.
Mom I loovvee you so much .. This has been the hardest thing for me to ingest inside my souls spirit . Is you moving on to the other side. Mom oh mom your so beautiful and smart and strong . I feel so lost . You thought me how to be the best at the ethics and ettiquete and to always put a little character of my own in with the parts I can enjoy . To earn self respect for oneself was on your top priorities . And to make my time worth while .. Here on earth as in heaven . I'm proud to have you as my Mother and your so dear to my every meaning . I don't know what I'm going to now with life with out you here. Your so far away from me now . Mom I'll be seeing you some day . I just know that I'm missing my mamma . I'm blessed you brought me forth into life it's self .. Mom momma. Love you .. Ms Monica lee rich. You know what mom life is to short . Seems like I better remember your words of wisdom and I do hear your spoken words as if your righgg next to me. I've got to be strong with out you. I'm scared mom . . Having your spiritual love and guidance is with me I know this is true . I say this in the name of Christ and the Holly Ghost and thy Father in Heaven . Amen . Thank you for being my best of friend in life mom . And bringing up knowing what truth inside of myself was important in our world of love inside the family . Couldn't of asked for a better mother.
I just saw this today thanksgiving 2020 I didn’t know The song ‘ I will always love you’ came to mind I hope all who knew her will forgive me -Dan Ruger
Mom I miss you so much and enduring absence. With out my mum really is so trying to not feel the wieght down on my heart heavy and I just tear up and want so just hug my mom. Smell my beautiful momma's sweet warm and comfort I need my mom.. I'm so scared to be far from mo mother oh losrd I pray that I will find life to become the woman my mother had taught me .. shown me given to me ... Thanks mom you are my Rock...
In Loving Memory
