Karen E. Cromwell

Karen Elaine (Blacken) Cromwell, 58, decided Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014, to take out her recently diagnosed pancreatic cancer before it took her spirit. She lived her life so fully, and with such love and laughter, that being sick was just not an option for her. She left us, very peacefully, holding her children's hands and surrounded by her family.

Karen was born on Sept. 26, 1955, in Arlington, Wash., to Ray and Alene Blacken. She was the middle child of five and spent her childhood in

4-H, caring tenderly for cows and baby ducks, and sneaking off to eat bowls of dog food with cream and sugar. Her claim to fame was as a cheerleader for Arlington High where her socialite tendencies truly blossomed.

In 1973, she moved to Spokane, where she met and married Bill Miller in 1978. They then moved to Challis, Idaho, where both of their children, Kellan and Eris, were born. There, she first started The Get Along Gang Preschool, and she brought it with her when they moved to Missoula in 1986. She spent 10-plus years molding the "future grownups of America," and touched the lives of hundreds of children in Missoula.

In the mid-1980s she also found a calling in Beta Sigma Phi and was involved ever since. Her adventures with her sorority sisters were some of the most cherished memories of her life.

After making the decision to give up the preschool, she became an office manager for Monida Healthcare Network, spent a year as a cabinet and bath designer at UBC, and then settled at CM Manufacturing, where she truly loved her work and co-workers.

In 1999, Karen and Bill divorced, and Karen met Brad Cromwell. She married Brad in May 2000. Together they enjoyed hunting trips, traveling to visit Karen's family and playing with the grandkids. In 2007, they found and remodeled their ideal home in Frenchtown, where they could truly escape and enjoy the birds and the Montana landscape.

Karen had a contagious spirit and the ability to laugh in any situation. She was amazingly creative and talented, and could "whip up" anything she put her mind to. Karen was anxiously awaiting the arrival of her first biological grandchild this June, and was so excited to be able to hear "Pumpkin's" heartbeat just five days before she passed.

Karen is survived by her husband, Brad Cromwell; two children, Kellan and Taylor Miller of Arvada, Colo., and Eris and Branden Rule of Portland, Ore.; two stepchildren, Brandi and Bryan Whitney of Missoula and Heather and Eric Vogel of Palmer, Alaska; three step-grandchildren, Hunter Harrison, and Aiden and Lilly Vogel; her father, Raymond and Dixie Blacken of Santa, Idaho; brothers, Laurin and Vicki Blacken and Perry Blacken; sisters, Lucinda and Steve VanValkenburg, and Lynnette Henak; and was a favorite auntie/great-auntie to many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her mother, Alene Blacken in 2009.

A celebration of Karen's life will be held at 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17, at Garden City Funeral Home with a reception to follow. All who loved her are welcome. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a memorial account in her name at First Montana Bank, 201 N. Higgins Ave, Missoula, MT 59802, (406) 829-2666

Read Karen Cromwell's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.