Karen K. Pacific

Karen Kathleen Hinck Pacific, 62, of Mesa, AZ passed away Sunday January 6, 2008. Karen was born February 20, 1945 in Spokane, WA . She attended Northville High School (Northville, MI) and later graduated from Alma College (Alma, MI.) She worked on her masters' degree at the University of the Americas (Mexico City.) Karen married Gary Lee Pacific, December 17, 1966 in Northville, MI and they were later sealed in the Mesa, AZ LDS Temple in 1976. Karen was a school teacher, working in the head start program in Milan, MI in 1967 and later as an elementary school teacher in Milan, MI, Cleveland, OH and Glendale, AZ. She taught special education in Mesa from 1986 - 1998. She loved teaching and felt it was the most important profession in America. Karen had a life long love of learning and read endlessly. She took a Chinese cooking class at Princeton University and played classic piano. She had an ardent love for animals and was a volunteer and supporter of the Wild Life Preservation and Sanctuary. Karen was active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, serving in multiple callings, but her greatest love was teaching in primary. Her faith in her Heavenly Father was absolute. Karen is survived by her husband of 41 years, Gary Lee Pacific; sons, Lee Charles Pacific (Denise); and Christian Edgar Pacific; daughters, Kendra Lee Pacific and Lorna Smith; grandson, Ilijah Lee Pacific, seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren; brother, John Hinck (Pam); and nephews, Jacob Hinck, and Spencer Hinck of Walnut Creek, CA. Words can not express how much this amazing woman will be missed by her family and friends. We were blessed with her love; her sense of humor, her creativity and her wisdom. Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 12, 2008 at 10:00 AM with a visitation one hour prior at the LDS Alta Mesa Stake Center building at 5350 E McLellan Rd., Mesa, AZ 85025. Arrangements were handled by Bunker's University Chapel , 3529 E University Dr., Mesa, AZ 85213 (480) 830-4105. Sign the Guest Book at eastvalleytribune.com
This obituary was originally published in the East Valley Tribune.