Karen S. Yoast
Passed: April 03, 2019
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Karen S. Yoast
Passed: April 03, 2019
Obituary
Karen S. Yoast, age 66 of Goodyear, AZ died April 3, 2019, in Goodyear, AZ, after a 3-year struggle with ALS. She was born December 19, 1952, in Rock Springs, Wyoming, the youngest of four children born to Aaron and Ione Deneley. Outgoing and friendly, it was impossible to be around Karen without becoming her friend. She had a wicked sense of humor and she loved to keep everyone in stitches. She grew up in Rock Springs, Wyoming, and later moved to Orem, UT where she lived for 35 years. A hard-working woman, she worked for the Utah Department of Transportation for 30 years, starting out driving a snow plow and working on paint crews, and later as office manager and contract administrator on large construction projects. Her excellent work habit earned her the honor of the Utah Department of Transportation Employee of the Year in 2017. She left many good friends in the department when she moved to AZ to be with her sister.
Karen could do anything! From baking to fixing plumbing problems, there were no limits to her expertise. She loved to cross stitch, do needlework, write poetry, work crossword and sudoku puzzles, and read. She adored her parrot, Graham and beagle, Gillette and watching animals in the wild.
Karen is survived by her son, Justin Yoast and daughter-in-law Jacquelyn of North Myrtle Beach, SC; sister, Diane Burns and brother-in-law, retired Brig. Gen. Pat Burns; and three grandchildren, Dallas, Garrison, and Savannah. She was preceded in death by her parents, Aaron and Ione Deneley.
35 responses to Karen S. Yoast
Jim Soderlund says:
April 10, 2019
Diane and Patrick; Justin was very very young when I last saw Karen in Rock Springs. I’m very saddened to read about her passing. If there was something I could do to fill that void; I’d do it. If there was something I could say to remove the hurt; I’d say it. All I can do is ask you accept my condolences. God be with you.
Susan Mondragon says:
April 12, 2019
Diane, and Justin and family. Karen and I reconnected about 3 years ago. Our moms and Elsie Simkins were friends.
I always received and wonderful Christmas card from Karen.
My thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.
Susan Hochart Mondragon
Paul and Sherri Lamb says:
April 12, 2019
Justin, Paul worked with your mom at UDOT and they became very close friends. Paul talked about your mom and you a lot. I was able to get to know your mom and what a wonderful lady she was. Please know that our hearts and sadden and that we hope you will feel peace if your life knowing she is not suffering anymore and that she will always be with you in spirit. Her memories will make you smile for the rest of your life. She touched our lives so thank you for sharing her with us.
Kyle Nelson says:
April 12, 2019
I worked with Karen two summers on the paint crew. She was a terrific individual, and will be missed by all that new her. I was proud to call her my friend.
Kim Krein, Owen and Karen's favorite cat....Sam says:
April 18, 2019
This is a hard thing to do. Put your thoughts into words after losing such a dear friend. I first ‘heard’ about Karen when a co worker in the Salt Lake UDOT office told me I needed to meet Karen that she was “larger than life” when I was transferring to the Orem office. You don’t really meet Karen, she just kind of butts her way into your life and yes, she was larger than life. She had this quick wit, a great sense of humor, a big smile and a laugh that you could hear from a distance. I met her my 2nd day at the Orem office when she saw a stranger and came up to find out who I was and it was an instant friendship. We would meet after work for supper to along with my then 7 year old son who she adored. His name is Owen but she called her buddy ‘O’ for short. The two of them would get engrossed in an Angry Birds video game and it was like I wasn’t even there. The joke became that the two of them were out to eat and I was the chaperone. Once we were planning our evening out for supper with Owen when our then Director who had known Karen his entire career overheard us and teased me about what kind of Mother was I for allowing “that woman” around my son She laughed her infectious, happy laugh and declared that “a hoot”. Anything funny causing her to laugh or was a funny adventure she declared “a hoot!” We had great conversations and lots of laughs and many times that were declared “a hoot” . Even though I am a native Alabamian and she is from Wyoming we had a lot in common and had the same views on life which made conversation easy. Karen was a self declared non cat lover and I remember the panic that set in at work after she announced she was cat sitting our Siamese cat, Sam while Owen and I went back home on vacation in 2016. I received lots of concerned phone calls asking if I were crazy letting Karen take care of Sam. She thought the commotion that caused was “a hoot” and laughed. I found a sign with a quote that said “Sometimes even I am surprised at what comes out of my mouth” and immediately thought of Karen. I printed and laminated and gave it to her. Well that was “a hoot” and she placed the sign prominently in her office. We had some fun times over the years sitting and gossiping both thinking my video game playing son wasn’t paying attention only to hear him snicker when he heard Miss Karen say something off color, which just might happen. She was the only person I know that could stand at the counter of Culvers and with a straight face as serious as she could be order CHEESE TURDS. Then as Owen and I are trying not to laugh out loud she would turn around so innocently pretending she had no clue she said something funny. He had told us that we were his favorite 2 crazy old ladies and then he met Karen’s sister Diane and she was honored with the #3 spot. We have lost a wonderful person and a true friend. She made a positive impact on the lives of everyone around her. Always a positive person, always happy, always had something funny to say even when she wasn’t really meaning to. That is when it was the funniest, her looking surprised at the laughter she caused. Always a true friend that I will miss more than I can say. Our sincerest condolences to her beloved Justin and his family and to her dear sister Diane. Rest in Peace my dear friend. We are going to miss all of those “hoots”.
Diane Burns says:
April 21, 2019
Well, you managed to make me cry, yet again! I’m thinking “Life was a hoot!” might be the perfect saying for her foot stone. Hope you and “O” are doing okay. See you soon. Thanks so much for the condolences and for your friendship. Diane
Jim Golden says:
May 7, 2019
Well said Kim. What a wonderful tribute!