Karen Ellen Saylor

Karen Ellen Pratt Saylor, 45, died Wednesday, January 3rd, in a car accident returning to her home in Austin from California. Karen was born April 24, 1961, in Freeport, TX, and lived most of her life in Austin. She was a graduate of the University of Texas and was pursuing her Master’s Degree. She was a dedicated high school math teacher who loved teaching and nurturing her students. She always felt that she received more from her students than she gave. Karen enjoyed long walks, bicycle rides, playing cribbage and word games, and watching movies with Ronny, her husband and her love. Karen’s son and daughter enjoyed an exceptionally close relationship with her, and her many nieces and nephews felt Karen’s home was their second home. Her home was always open to anyone who needed friendship, consolation or a slice of homemade apple pie. She was a surrogate mom to many. Throughout the year, her home was often the place for the “sibling gathering,” which included food, games, singing, and laughter. Karen was generous and accepting, and she was happy. Her insouciance all through life made it seem as though she were walking on a different piece of earth. Her joy in life made everyone around her feel loved and want to love her in return. She was a faithful long-time member of the Church in Austin, where she served in many ways. Karen was strong in her faith. She walked in love, talked in love, and loved the Lord. Karen is survived by her husband, Ronny; daughter Rebecca Eng and son Merrill Eng; her stepdaughter Rachel Saylor and stepson Jacob Saylor, all of Austin; her parents Robert and Ann Pratt of Fort Davis, Texas; her sister Beth Albro-Pratt; sister Cathy Nelson and her husband James Nelson, sister Mary Pratt and her husband Sid Hall, all of Austin, sister Roberta Brown and her husband Randy Brown of Greeley, Colorado; and her brother Travis Pratt and his wife Inge Pratt of Bordentown, New Jersey. She is also survived by fifteen nieces and nephews and one great-niece. Funeral services will be held on Monday, January 8, at 1:00 p.m. at the Wilke-Clay-Fish funeral home, 2620 S. Congress Avenue. Donations in Karen’s memory may be made to a charity of choice. Memorials and guestbook online at wcfish.com