Karen Eileen Moser wasn’t ready, yet she passed away Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 in Longview, Texas. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023 at the First United Methodist Church of downtown Lake Charles at 812 Kirkman St., Lake Charles, LA 70601. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m.; the Memorial Service begins at 10 a.m. to be followed by a reception at 11 a.m.

Born Aug. 22, 1957 in Fort Smith, Ark., Karen lived an eventful life. She moved more than thirty times, from Panama to Germany, and all around the United States. After long deliberation regarding retirement plans, she and her husband, Ken, had just embarked on their last move together. She was just getting ready to have the time of her life, and finally settle, after all these years. 

Although she had strong friendships in Lake Charles, there was so much Karen was looking forward to in retirement in Longview. She loved the trees and the weather, and desired to be nearer to family and her gardening community.

Karen always wanted to live on the water, and, with their new house situated on a creek bed, she’d finally get that with every rain. The days after she passed, the creek was flowing and babbling beautifully, just how she loved. 

Along with the move, she and Ken had just finished planning a trip to travel to Israel in Oct. The next phase of life and adventure was just about to get started. 

Karen was a magnificent hostess and homemaker because she worried over and appreciated the smallest details in everything; in the art that she loved, in spaces and gardens she cared for, and especially in the relationships she cherished. She wanted everyone to feel appreciated and loved.  

Like her parents, Maurine Colburn Miller and Clemith Jefferson Miller Jr., Karen always had a hobby and was good at many things. More than anything though, Karen enjoyed being helpful. She fondly recalled helping her dad on automotive projects and helping her mom with the cooking from an early age and taking over the meal planning and prep. 

After studying computer science during the personal computing revolution and a brief career in software for oil and gas, Karen embarked on her life’s next chapter and greatest joy, raising her three boys. 

Karen was present with her boys in every aspect and activity of their lives. She made sure every day was full of fun and activities, took pride in finding the coolest toys that would help build life skills, and let them roam and explore despite her tendency to worry. She took charge of parent-teacher groups, led the school band parents, and headed fundraising efforts for school and church groups. As her boys grew up and left home, she reveled in being on-call as an invaluable consultant and advisor for whatever life threw at them. Most importantly, she was always there when they needed a hug. She picked up on cues in conversation that no one else did, saw through problems, engineered creative solutions, and knew just what to say to make you feel loved and known. 

In addition to family, Karen was always active in her faith, church, and community. She began nearly every day with a 5 a.m. devotional. She was a longtime member of BSF, holding most leadership positions, a leader in VBS, and a volunteer with the Red Cross. Karen was a master gardener and she loved gadgets and tools, which she researched extensively to the point where she became a product advisor to many of her friends and family. She was a voracious reader with a broad interest in fiction, fantasy, science fiction, and history. Karen’s love language was gift giving; she spent time thinking about each gift to make it meaningful to the recipient. Also, she remembered who gave her gifts and usually when they were given. She was very careful to give respect to everyone she encountered, especially service workers. All of these things were manifestations of her strong faith, which she lived and breathed in every aspect of her life.

Karen is loved and remembered by her husband of 45 years, Kenneth Wayne Moser; her three sons and their spouses, Eric Moser and Jordan, Ryan Moser and Alora, and Kyle Moser and Luisa Venegoni; sisters and their spouses, Glenda Moore and David, and Kim Ess and Bob; grandchildren Levi and Elise; and so many deeply loved in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.