Karen Margaret Batson
October 1, 1947 – June 4, 2026

On June 4th, 2026, Karen Margaret Batson passed away at the age of 78, leaving behind a legacy of love, laughter, and an unwavering devotion to her family. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend.

Karen’s story began in Buffalo, New York, where she was born on October 1st, 1947, to John and Mary Thompson. She moved to California with her family as a baby, spending her childhood and teenage years growing up alongside her eight siblings in Westchester. In March of 1966, life changed forever when she met the love of her life, Mick, while out cruising the boulevard. The connection was instant, and they were married later that year on November 26, 1966. Together, Mick and Karen built a beautiful life that spanned 59 years of marriage.

Family was always Karen’s number one priority, a belief she lived out every single day. Together, she and Mick raised their daughters Lisa, Cindy, and Kathy, and later welcomed their twins, Mark and Kimberly, in 1988. She raised her children to be kind, compassionate, and to always follow their dreams. No matter what her kids or grandkids were going through, Karen was always their number one supporter.

Before the twins were born, Karen was a well-known hairdresser in Yucaipa. Later on, in 1994, she found another true calling when she began working as a yard duty at Yucaipa Elementary. She eventually retired from Ridgeview Elementary in 2022 after 28 dedicated years with the school district. With her gentle warmth and approachable nature, Karen made a meaningful difference in the lives of every single child she interacted with.

Karen lit up every room she walked into and had a gift for bringing smiles to people's faces. Blessed with what she lovingly called the "gift of gab," anyone talking to her knew they were in great company. She was an exceptionally good listener and advice giver, a wonderful cook, and someone who made everyone feel instantly at home. She loved watching game shows, diving into English mysteries, shopping with her friends and family, and spending hours playing cards and games with her grandkids.

Karen is survived by her devoted husband, Mick; her five children, Lisa (David) Barnes, Cindy (Mike) Taylor, Kathy (Brian) Wall, and twins Mark (Megan) Batson and Kimberly (Douglas) McNulty; her ten granddaughters, Jennifer Barnes, Stephanie Barnes, Trisha Ivy (Taylor), Carlee Hendricks (Taylor), Sarah Wall, Nicole Wall, Allison Wall, Casidy McNulty, Ellie McNulty, and Ayla Batson; her grandson, Ryder Batson; and her two great-grandchildren, Owen McGill and Jane Hendricks; and her six surviving siblings, Jerry (Sharon) Thompson, Sue (Steve) Giesregen, Jim (Lori) Thompson, Donna (Andy) Schuck, John (Kim) Thompson, and Brian Thompson. She was preceded in death by her parents and two of her siblings, Pam (Harold) Renkly and Danny (Patty) Thompson.

In lieu of flowers please donate to The The Parkinson's Foundation or The Michael J. Fox Foundation.