Karen Louise (Sanns) Masone-Waston

Karen (Sanns) Masone-Watson, aged 76, passed away on January 13, 2024 in her home with her husband and daughter by her side

Smacked on the backside in St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction, CO on July 12, 1947 to Treva and Richard (Dick) Sanns, Karen loved the place she grew up in. Karen’s dad was the local tractor mechanic, and she grew up picking peaches, sweeping the garage, and fishing with her dad. She graduated Palisade High School class of ’65 with 41 other students, most of whom she would hug in the grocery store every time she saw them. She received the Home Economics Scholarship of the Year.

Karen went to beauty school in Denver and became a hairdresser in 1967. She kept her hair teased for Jesus and platinum blonde for about 10 years. While she was a hairdresser, she worked back of house bookkeeping for her first husband at Freeway Auction until 1978 when she told that drunk SOB that the marriage wasn’t worth saving.

In 1983, she helped her dad open a construction company, Palisade Construction, and she served as bookkeeper and flagger. This is where she met her second husband Russell Masone, had a whirl-wind romance and in six months they were engaged. Soon after they were married in 1985, they had their only child, Jolene. Karen spent the next 15 years in bookkeeping and being the best band mom a kid could ask for. Karen attended every band concert, recital, and function on the calendar. She also traveled a lot to see her husband at work and take road trips to “see the damn thing.” She saw most of the United States and found much of it too hot.

Russell had a sudden heart attack in 1999, leaving her with a mouthy teenager and a “too fancy” motorhome they had just purchased as a plan for retirement. She spent much of her time after that volunteering at the Palisade Resource Center thrift store and taking care of her mom. She got a chance to spend time with her favorite people.

In 2009, she met Robert (Bob) Watson on a dating website, and Bob moved from Alaska to be with her. They wed in 2010. They had almost 13 years together before she passed away. Karen is preceded in death by her previous husband, her mother and father, her favorite cousins, and several dogs. Karen is survived by her sister Phyllis Schroeder, her husband Robert (Bob) Watson, and her mouthy kid Jolene Masone.

A celebration of life will be held at 10 am, Friday June 7, Eagle Rim Park West Shelter: 2736 Cheyenne Drive Grand Junction, CO 81501. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Grand Mesa Middle School Music Program. Her favorite music instructors work there. 585 31 1/2 Rd, Grand Junction, CO 81504

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