Karen Leigh Wood – Plumas News

In Loving Memory: Karen Leigh Wood

November 25, 1941 – May 13, 2023

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Karen Wood, a beloved wife, mother, and talented home designer, gardener, and florist, who created beauty in the world around her.

Born on November 25, 1941, just weeks before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Karen was a woman who survived her fair share of challenges in life. And yet, she was determined and tireless in her pursuit to make the world around her beautiful.

After graduating high school in Sacramento, Karen went on to have a full and eclectic work life spanning many creative pursuits. She made children’s clothes at her Capitola studio, had a dessert and florist shop, fondly referred to as Karen’s Bloomers in Downtown Quincy, and hosted a pre-school at the Keddie Wye house, which the parents and children knew as Whistlestop Preschool. Children made arts and crafts, and enjoyed a daily swim out on the deck above Spanish Creek in summer, or bundled up for a romp in the snow in the cold months.

Karen’s keen eye for design and innate talent for transforming spaces made her an exceptional home designer. Whether it was a simple room makeover or a complete home or garden renovation, she had a remarkable ability to breathe life into any space, creating havens of comfort and elegance. Her unique sense of style, which her children affectionately referred to as country clutter, was something that led her on many adventurous pursuits, be it early Saturday morning yard sales, or a romp down a dark street to a dusty antique store. Her children were known to make a game of her keen observation powers. Often moving one of her many knickknacks, just a quarter of an inch, only to laugh when Karen would come by, instantly notice, and rotate it back into its proper position.

Beyond her homemaking skills, Karen had a green thumb that came to her quite naturally. Her garden was a sanctuary of vibrant colors and fragrant blooms, a testament to her nurturing spirit. With unwavering dedication, and her beloved husband Jack to bring her vision to reality, she create beautiful spaces for her friends and family to enjoy. Her garden was a source of solace and beauty, and also an endless “honey-do” list for her beloved and devoted husband, Jack. Together they created masterpieces.

Karen had four children and her determination and strength shaped the lives of her children, teaching them the importance of resilience and perseverance. She sought to instill in them a sense of ambition and a commitment to excellence.

But it was as a wife that Karen truly shone. Her devotion to her husband was unwavering, and their bond was one that seemed to encapsulate more than one lifetime. Together, they created many homes filled with beautiful things and sense of adventure and creativity was something to be noted.

A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, June 25th, at 1 pm, at Young’s Market in Taylorsville. Family and friends are invited to pay their respects and celebrate the life of Karen Wood.