Karen Lou (Campbell) Mick

Karen Campbell Mick, age 85, passed away on August 10, 2023. Karen was born at home in Belen, New Mexico. She is preceded in death by her parents, Dewitt and Helen Campbell, her husband David E Mick and infant son David Mark. Karen's family moved around a bit in her childhood and she lived in Belen, Nambe, Espanola and for a few years in Ventura California before her family returned to Belen. After graduating from Belen High School in 1956 the family then moved to Albuquerque.

Growing up Karen was a hard worker. As young as four she was doing chores on the dairy farm and in the family orchard. She shared stories about carrying full milk cans that were bigger than she was all before dawn and her walk to school. Caring for the home was second nature for her and she was a master with a broom. She could sweep a room clean like no other person and made good time doing so. Life during those times was rural and could be hard. Walking to school, doing chores and spending time with her family made up most of her days. Karen learned to cook and sew while spending time with her dear Grandma Laskar made her happy.

When her family moved to Albuquerque Karen promptly found a job working at USF&G Insurance Agency. She worked there for several years and managed to buy herself her first car while doing so. She worked with a group of ladies who became lifelong friends and continued to meet them for lunch four times a year into her 70's when she was the last of the crew to remain living.

In the summer of 1960 she met her future husband, David, of 61 years and they married in the fall of the following year. She stayed home for a long time raising children and managing the home, but like many women of her generation she returned to work in the late 70's and after several stints in offices she settled in with APS Cafeteria Systems where she was a manager for 17 years. She loved working in the cafeterias and spent the majority of her time at Hayes and Eisenhower Middle Schools. She was a part of a wonderful group of colleagues who worked hard to feed kids all across the district, before computers, she could work 800 kids through her lunch line with her index cards in less than 20 minutes. She always went the extra mile to make sure everyone was fed and taken care of before she ever did anything for herself. She was selfless both at work and at home, always serving others first. And she was also proud that she had the ability to help support her family and had her own retirement and benefits.

Karen was immensely proud of her children and did all that she could to provide life experiences and education to her own kids no matter the sacrifice. She was also very proud of her grandchildren and her great grandchild and would tell everyone of each accomplishment achieved or share pictures with great pride.

As the youngest of three sisters, Karen valued her relationships with her sisters and would talk with them every day. She was most at home and happy when they were together cooking, sometimes gardening, or just visiting over a cup of coffee and a meal or delicious sweet that one or all of them had prepared. The trio was as close as they could be and would hang tough in hard times, and enjoy their time together, they hated to let go when it was time to say goodbye, it was just never long enough. Regardless of the distance in geography, they lived their lives side by side cherishing one another and sharing an unforgettable bond.

Karen is survived by her sisters, Diane Riggs and Letha Young. Her sister in law Elaine Mick, her son, Dennis Mick and wife Lisa, her grandchild Brandon Mick and wife Lyndi, parents of her great grandchild, Brooklyn, grandchild Barrett Mick, and her daughter and caregiver Melissa Mick. Karen was also privileged to have many, many wonderful cousins, nieces, nephews and extended family. She was immensely proud of everyone she called family and cherished her time with all.

The family wishes to thank all of the members of her care team at the UNM Cancer Center, all of those who cared for her at UNMH, her in home therapists from CenterWell Home Health and most recently the entire team at Fiesta Park Wellness and Rehabilitation and Ambercare Hospice. The family appreciates the level of care, kindness and respect shown to Karen throughout treatment and certainly in her final days.

Per her request, private services will take place in the fall where she will be laid to rest with her husband in the Santa Fe National Cemetery. If you are so inclined donations can be made in her memory to a local animal shelter, food bank or children's charity. Her favorites included Watermelon Mountain Ranch, The Boys and Girls Ranch of New Mexico and the Rio Grande Down Syndrome Network and the Roadrunner Food Bank.