Karen Thurmond

Oh, how she loved her mint chocolate chip ice cream. Everywhere we went for ice cream the order was always 'mint' as we came to call it. "A large scoop of mint, please." Look at her smile. That's what we will always have with us, her big smile.

Karen M. Thurmond of Albuquerque, NM went home to be with Jesus on January 2, 2024. She was born Karen Goodrich in Albuquerque on November 14, 1964. Before she passed, she definitely knew where she was going - straight into the loving arms of her Savior, Jesus of Nazareth. We are saddened by her loss, but we are also joyful that she has gone home, albeit way, way too soon. Karen was diagnosed with liver cancer in early 2023, and she fought hard. She gave it everything she had and then found more. No one could have could have fought harder than she did.

Karen is survived by her husband Ben Thurmond and her children Brenden (20) and Kyleigh (17) Thurmond, all of Albuquerque, NM, and by her brother Dennis Goodrich and his family, and her sister Noelle Goodrich and her family, both of Flower Mound, TX. She was preceded into eternity by her father and mother, Jay and Marlene Goodrich also of Albuquerque.

Karen grew up in Albuquerque, attended First United Methodist Church and graduated from Valley High School in 1982. She then graduated from the University of New Mexico in December, 1989 with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education, and became a lifelong 1st grade school teacher at Albuquerque Public Schools. She taught at Carlos Rey, Painted Sky, Marie M. Hughes and Ventana Ranch Elementary Schools. She loved her kiddos and took great pride in the fact that so many of them loved her in return and said she was one of their best teachers ever. She made dozens of lifelong friends in all of in her endeavors and she will be sorely missed by so many beautiful people.

Karen and Ben enjoyed going camping together in the Southwest, mostly to Colorado and Arizona. Ben and the kids will continue that tradition and are finding new places to go camping. Without mom, things will be different, but those joyful times together will certainly continue.

She also loved her John Grisham books and has left behind a full collection, most of which are 1st print. She never got tired of getting a new John Grisham 'birthday book' and would read it cover-to-cover usually during Spring Break from school. Kyleigh and Brenden are going to continue that tradition and add to her collection as new books come out.

Karen arrived in Heaven and was greeted by Jesus Himself where he looked into her beautiful blue eyes and said, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." Indeed, from the lives she touched here on earth, her job was most definitely well done. After receiving a big hug from Jesus, we suspect that she was swooped up into the arms of her daddy Jay for the biggest reunion hug anyone has ever received. She loved her Mom and Daddy. And then when the hugs and kisses were all done, she went to the stove to heat up some water for a nice big cup of hot tea, with two packs of sweetener, please. And then a big scoop of mint ice cream will be nice for later this evening.

We love you, Karen. We all love you so much.

A Celebration of Karen's Life will be held on Saturday, February 3rd, 11:00am at French Funeral's - Golf Course location. The family would be honored for those that loved and shared in Karen's life to join them and wear her favorite colors of purple or blue.