Karen Young Barrett, daughter of the late John and Marsha Young, was born in High Point, North Carolina on March 2, 1958, and passed away from leukemia on September 24, 2024, in the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem. She was 66.
Karen grew up in the Five Points area of High Point, NC. She was an inquisitive and precocious child during her early years at Jamestown Elementary. She later attended Jamestown Middle School and Ragsdale Senior High School, where she was a cheerleader. She also swam competitively and was a lifeguard. Karen graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Education from Appalachian State University in 1980. Her last semester in college was spent at the Western Carolina Center in Morganton, NC, working with severely handicapped children.
Following college Karen accepted a position as Administrative Assistant to the President of Hatteras Yachts in High Point, where she worked until 1992. In 1992 she realized a dream of opening a retail cosmetic store, “The Body Shop,” in Greensboro with her best friend, Joyce Odom Graverson. They later opened a second store in Myrtle Beach. Following the sale of their stores in 1997, Karen worked for several years in credit card services. In her spare time, she enjoyed gardening, feeding her birds, walking her dog, exercising, and reading about politics. Her favorite place on earth was Bald Head Island, NC, where she and her husband often visited.
Karen is survived by her loving husband, Cliff Barrett, a brother, Jimmy Young, a nephew, Ryan Young, and the joy of her life, a miniature schnauzer named Merlin.
No service has been scheduled at the present time. Memorial contributions in Karen’s memory may be made to Hospice Home of High Point, 1801 Westchester Drive, High Point, NC 27262.
Online condolences may be made at www.haneslineberryfhsedgefield.com
