Lola Belle Karr, age 83, passed away on Sunday, March 30, 2014 in Shoreline, WA.

Memorial services will be held Monday, April 7, 2014 at 11:00 am at Salmon Creek United Methodist Church, with the Reverend Joyce Emery officiating. Interment will follow at Northwood Park Cemetery in Ridgefield, WA with a reception to follow at Tri-Mountain Golf Course in Ridgefield, WA.

Lola was born to the late Charles and Weltha Hutchison on December 24, 1930 at Pumpkin Ridge, Oregon. She attended Hillsboro High School in Hillsboro, Oregon. In 1947 Lola married the love of her life, John D. “Dave” Karr and moved to Vancouver, WA. Lola and Dave were happily married for 42 years, until Dave’s death in 1989. In 1994 Lola relocated to Black Diamond, WA to be closer to her daughter and granddaughters.

Lola was a homemaker while her children were young. She went to work for Hi School Pharmacy in 1974 as a bookkeeper, and retired in 1994.

She was a former member of Salmon Creek United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday school and ran the nursery for many years. For the past 20 years Lola has attended Cornerstone United Methodist Church in Covington, WA, where she was involved in a variety of ministries including the Welcoming Team, Prayer Chain, Vacation Bible School, and Finance Team.

Lola was an avid volunteer who spent hundreds of hours helping others. She was very active in the Salmon Creek American Legion Auxiliary where she served as past president, volunteered at the Veteran’s Hospital, and baked dozens of pies to sell at the Clark County Fair. She lead Girl Scouts troops and Cub Scout dens, and was a March of Dimes Area Coordinator and the Cystic Fibrosis Area Chair, who coordinated the first door-to-door campaign for CF in the Salmon Creek area. In 1970, she was named Citizen of the Year by the Salmon Creek Community Club. Lola was active with PTA as well, receiving the Golden Acorn Award in 1971 for her service to children and youth. When she moved to Black Diamond in 1994 she continued to find many outlets in the community to serve. She was very active in her granddaughter’s lives and supported their many activities. Lola was “adopted” by the Kentlake Drama program as their honorary grandmother in 2006. She spent many hours backstage sewing costumes for her granddaughters who were active in the program, along with many other students. She also baked endless cookies and cupcakes and never missed a show.

Lola had a true servant’s heart. Her kindness was apparent in her everyday life. Her home was always open to family and friends. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother; she was a loving sister and aunt, and she was a wonderful neighbor and friend. Simply put she was an amazing woman, strong, independent and above all a selfless caregiver.

Lola is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Carolyn and Doug Callahan of Black Diamond, WA. She also leaves behind two dearly beloved granddaughters, Jillian Callahan of Renton, WA, and Caitlin Callahan of Pullman, WA. She is also survived by sisters Della Karr, Forest Grove, OR; Violet Schwander, Hillsboro, OR; Cora Hoisington, Portland, OR; Faye Wyatt, Hillsboro, OR; and Nadine Armstrong, Madras, OR. Surviving brothers are Arnold Hutchison, Aloha, OR and Ralph Hutchison, Vancouver, WA. She also leaves behind many caring nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Lola was preceded in death by her husband John David Karr in 1989, her beloved son David Reed Karr in 1981, son John Karr and daughters Constance Jo Karr and Janice Rose Karr. Sisters Lonnie, Thelma, and Hazel, and brothers Charlie and Vince also preceded Lola.

The family wishes to thank the staff at North Ridge House who loved and cared for Lola over the last months of her life, as well as Evergreen Hospice. Remembrances may be made in Lola’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org.

Arrangements were provided by Beck’s Funeral Home in Edmonds, WA.