Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
Karen Lee Tilton Peck was born on Sept. 11, 1938, in Burlington, Kansas, to farmers Edgar and Verna Tilton. She passed away gently at home in her sleep (which is just how she wanted it), on May 8, 2026, at the age of 87, with family nearby, in Cascade Locks, Oregon. Karen had two sisters, Judy Logan and Bernice Harbaugh, who preceded her passing.
Raised in a small farming community, Karen learned the value of hard work early. As she told it, she did chores at the crack of dawn and then she and her sisters “walked to school barefoot, in 3 feet of snow, uphill both ways.” She attended a one-room country school and developed a lifelong love of music and reading. At 16, she stopped attending school, got married, and started a family. (This was not an unusual thing in the culture in those days.) That marriage lasted nine years. By the age of 26, she had remarried and put her heart and energy into raising her six children. She gardened, made preserves, relish and ketchup, and learned to cook delicious meals with whatever farm protein was provided, from chicken to frog legs and mountain oysters.
At the age of 38, Karen returned to school to get her GED. Going to school while raising a large family was quite an accomplishment. In 1977, in search of milder weather conditions (tornadoes, extreme cold and heat), the family moved to Cascade Locks. After living in the flatlands of Kansas, Karen found the Gorge’s mountains, waterfalls, and the Columbia River itself to be magical.
Karen took a job driving school buses and found a calling she kept for decades. She served the Hood River County School District driving after-school activities. She transported students to band and choir concerts, hundreds of athletic events, and trips across Oregon, Washington, and into Canada. She said driving in the Gorge’s wintertime road conditions put some “natural curl” in her hair. She valued the friendships of coaches, teachers, parents, and the kids (some even shared their fries since she stayed with the bus while they all hopped out to get dinner). Keen to work more regular hours, Karen began driving the daily route getting kids to and from school. Her steady presence, friendly greeting, and commitment to safety made her a trusted figure to students and their families.
Karen’s service extended beyond the bus. She was a devoted volunteer for community events in Cascade Locks (too numerous to mention here) and was honored one summer to be named Grand Marshal for the Sternwheeler Days Parade. She was an active member of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Stevenson, Washington, where she served in various capacities over the years, including bible studies, children’s programs, singing in the choir, and being church council president. Karen’s fervent wish was that her loved ones would share her belief in God. Her faith enabled her to find peace and ease in her last weeks, and she said she was not scared of passing but instead was profoundly curious what Heaven would be like.
Those who knew Karen remember her sense of humor (her goofy alter ego Miss Mimi was comic relief on many occasions), generosity, creativity, and readiness to help. Whether sharing a meal or pitching in at a community event, she gave freely and quietly.
Above all, Karen’s greatest joy was her family. She is survived by her children, Julie and husband Dan Beers; Bill and wife Traci Peck; Debbie Dittbrenner; Verna and husband Kris Reynolds; and Pamela Morse. One son, Rocky, preceded her in death. She is also survived by her partner, Greg Hauer. Karen was blessed with 11 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. For many decades, her home with its tiny kitchen remained the family gathering place.
As we say, “Goodbye for now,” we remember a life of remarkable dedication: a trusted bus driver, a devoted volunteer, a faithful church member, and someone who made the world a nicer place. While she will be sorely missed, her influence stretches across school halls, city streets, church pews, and in the hearts of loved ones. Services for Karen are still pending and will be announced in an upcoming edition.
Columbia Gorge News, May 27, 2026
To plant a tree in memory of Karen Tilton as a living tribute, please visit Tribute Store.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.
(0) entries
Sign the guestbook.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.