Karen Kathleen Tyson

Karen K. Clouser was born and raised in Lewiston, Pennsylvania with her mother Phyllis Kathleen Richey, her father Robert Arthur Clouser, and her older brother Bobby (Robert Clouser Jr.). Karen enjoyed living in Pennsylvania and described a “good childhood” with parents who lovingly doted on her. She was a happy and outgoing child who was well liked by her classmates. Karen graduated from Lewiston- Granville High School in 1969.

Karen married Dennis Black (AKA Denny), a professional drag racer in 1971. They started a family in 1976 with the birth of their first child, Ethan Alan Black in Pennsylvania. Soon after, the couple moved west, first to Boulder, Colorado where her second son, Aaron Wade Black was born, and then to Arlee, Montana. Karen loved her boys and enjoyed dressing them up in matching outfits and taking lots of photos.

Karen separated from Denny and moved back to the East Coast in the late 1970s to be closer to her parents. As a single mother, Karen worked as a clerk at the Jamesway Department store for a year before going back to business school. Karen graduated from the South Hills Business School in 1982 with a diploma in the Stenographic- Secretarial Program. Karen worked in property management for several years, managing several different large apartment complexes in Pennsylvania and Florida. Karen married David Tyson, a pilot, in 1985. Their marriage ended in 1987.

While on a business trip to Florida, she met Frederick (AKA Fritz) Schiller who would become her third husband on May 17, 1989. With her marriage to Fritz, Karen had the opportunity to be a full-time mother for many years. Her youngest son Blair Schiller was born in 1993 in Coral Springs and Karen and Fritz were thrilled to have a baby, even in their later ages. Karen loved living in South Florida and enjoyed jogging, playing tennis, traveling, boating, watching movies, and taking her children to their sporting and other events. Karen enjoyed many amazing vacations during this phase of her life including hunting and fishing trips, scuba diving, and cruises. Karen was always the photographer on vacations and made friends with anyone she encountered.

Karen and Fritz separated in the mid-2000s, and Karen re-entered the workforce in her 50’s. She worked many different jobs later in life, including being a real estate agent, Starbucks barista, ATM servicing for Loomis, tax preparation, and anything else that kept her busy and gave her the opportunity to chat with people. Even while she was a single, working mother, Karen continued to be involved with the Bolles School yearbooks and eagerly watched her son Blair’s many swim meets.

Shortly after Blair graduated from High School, Karen and David Tyson reconnected in Ft Meyers, Florida. They got married for a second time on June 13, 2015 at an intimate and incredibly fun wedding at the Graceland Chapel in Las Vegas. David and Karen moved into a condo in Fort Meyers together and enjoyed several years of hanging out by the pool sunbathing and socializing with the other residents.

Karen was eager to be a grandmother, and quickly fell in love with her first granddaughter Betty Black who was born in 2016. Karen referred to Betty as her “mini-me” and visited her in Chico, California as often as she could from Florida. A second grandchild Micah Black was born in 2017 and when she came to Oregon to meet her third grandchild Dylan in 2019, she ended up staying and her husband David moved all their belongings to Southern Oregon to live near the grandkids. Karen soon became known as “Grandma T” and spent three years snuggling on the couch with her grandchildren, making snapchat photos, and bringing them treats and toys. Karen developed a social network of friends from the community her and David lived in and with other grandmothers whose children were friends, whom she referred to her as her “lunch ladies”. Karen loved going on dates with her friends and taking photos of them and their meals. She loved walking around Reinhart Park while listening to her upbeat playlist and shopping for clothes.

Karen was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in May of 2022. Initially a candidate for the Whipple surgery, Karen hoped to live many more years. After several painful rounds of chemo, it was discovered that the cancer was growing and spreading. When Karen made the decision to stop treatment and to pursue hospice care, she was at peace with her decision, saying that she had lived a full and wonderful life. Karen was cared for lovingly by her sons Ethan, Aaron, and Blair, and her husband David in her last days with the support of the amazing Asante Hospice team.

Karen is survived by her older brother, Robert Clouser, her husband David Tyson, and her sons Ethan Black, Aaron Black, and Blair Schiller. Karen’s is survived by her four grandchildren Betty Black, Micah Black, Dylan Black, and Lennon Black.

Karen will forever be remembered as an outgoing, upbeat, funny, stylish, loving, adventurous, beautiful, and generous woman. Karen was proudest in life of her three sons, who she described as “all awesome!” and got the most joy in life from spending time with her grandchildren. She will be dearly missed by all who loved her.

Karen was known more for memes than quotes in her old age, but her children all agree that this statement by Betty White suits her perfectly: I just make it my business to get along with people so I can have fun. It’s that simple. -Betty White