Karen Tina Halterman, a long-time resident of Oak Creek, died Friday, April 13 th after a long and courageous battle with cancer.  She was 65.

Karen was born in West Palm Beach, FL and spent her early years in Florida, England, California and Seattle, as her family moved around for her father's career as an officer of the US Air Force.  The family finally settled in Denver in 1965, as Karen hit her teen years.

Karen went to George Washington high school and then set out on her own as a true hippy of the 70s.  She moved to Oak Creek in 1974 when her first son, Blue, was just a tyke and brought her youngest son, Max, into the world in her own home in Oak Creek a few years later.

Karen loved the outdoors, hiking, snowshoeing, gardening, spending time with friends and family, reading, dogs, garden gnomes, and (most of all) being a mother and a "grammy."

Her heavy involvement in the Oak Creek community over the years resulted in being elected Mayor for two terms as well as serving a lengthy stint as Town Clerk.

While battling cancer this last year, she showed her exceptional strength and determination by climbing the Devil's Causeway and Crystal Mills near Marble, CO .

She was preceded in death by her son, Blue.  She is survived by her son, Max Halterman (Samara Halterman), siblings David Halterman (Holly Graves), Rex Halterman (Elizabeth Lauby) and Eve Halterman (Jaime Valdes), niece Laura Halterman-Graves, nephews Eli Halterman and Evan Valdes-Halterman, her beloved granddaughters, Sylvyanna and Tallulah Halterman and many, many cherished friends.