Obituary of Karen LaCrone

   Karen Rea LaCrone, age 79, of New Plymouth, ID died peacefully October 26, 2023 in New Plymouth, ID. 

   Although she was many things throughout her 79 years of life, to our family, she was simply the North Star. We are thankful she is finally at peace.

   She was born in Ontario, Oregon on June 22^nd, 1944 to Ray and Corinne Epperson, Karen was the oldest of three siblings. As smart as she was strong-willed, she graduated as valedictorian of New Plymouth High School’s Class of 1962. Four months later, she married her high school sweetheart, Dale LaCrone, and moved to the LaCrone farm, where she raised her four children. 

   After 53 years of dedicated service, Karen retired from the Payette Valley Co-Op in 2017. Even still, she remained an active community member, volunteering at Saint Alphonsus and the New Plymouth Senior Center. She was a gifted crocheter, a true sweets-lover, and her family’s biggest cheerleader, attending every athletic event and special occasion (including traveling the rodeo circuit). 

   Above all, Karen maintained a profound and unwavering faith throughout her life. She played the organ in church growing up and was never late to midnight mass services on Christmas Eve. 

   She is survived by her husband, her sisters, Shirley Johnson and Sandy Bosworth, her children, Lisa (Scott) Gosse, James “Jim” (Carmen) LaCrone, and Scooter LaCrone, and her grandchildren, Kayla, Raelynn, Lane, Glen, and Carleigh. She was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved daughter, Shellie Neill.

   Love blooms where love is planted. Thank you, Grandma, for planting such a wonderful garden.