Karen Prescott Bates

Karen Prescott Bates, a veteran of the United States Army, passed away on December 4, 2020 at the Veterans Hospital in Palo Alto after a 4-year battle with cancer. Karen was born in Castro Valley, California on May 9, 1961 to Louis and Patricia Skaggs. She graduated from El Dorado High School in Placerville in 1979, before joining the Army.

After her time in the Army, Karen settled in Silicon Valley where she started her career in high tech working for several different companies throughout her career. Among her favorites were Mozilla and most recently Kumu Networks, where she was instrumental in setting up their culture which included the concept of bringing your dog to work. This culture enabled her to bring her trusty companion, Samantha the Wonder Dog, to work with her daily. She loved her job and the people she worked with. She was saddened when she had to leave due to her illness.

Karen loved to travel and had many hobbies, but her favorite was wine tasting. She loved wine tasting so much, she bought a second home in the mountains of Placerville where she could often be found frequenting her favorite wineries. She had a great love for animals and a knack for making people laugh. Her favorite days were Christmas and April Fools, where she was known for her many pranks. She was loved by all who met her and will be truly missed.

Karen is survived by: her husband Richard Bates; her mother Patricia Skaggs; sisters Teresa Skaggs, Laurie Skaggs, Ramona Dahlin and Patty Jespersen; brother Ronald Skaggs; niece Annalisa Schallerer; nephews Evan Schallerer and Brady Bell. Karen was preceded in death by her father, Louis Skaggs, and her beloved dog, Samantha the Wonder Dog.