Karen Barnes

1956 - 2024

Karen Barnes
07/21/1956 - 06/30/2024
Karen S. (Sander) Barnes, age 67, of Humble, Texas, passed away on Sunday, June 30, 2024. She was born on July 21, 1956, in Hays, Kan., to John J. and Darlene (Jacobs) Sander. She married Aric R. Barnes on July 1, 1988, in Pasadena, Texas.
Karen was a devoted wife, mother, sister, friend, neighbor, and teacher. Her teaching career spanned practically all levels, from preschool to community college, including Milby High School, Gregory Lincoln Education Center in Houston I.S.D., Teague Middle School, and Lewis Middle School in Aldine I.S.D. She shared her love of mathematics education through her work with the Rice University School Mathematics Project. She was recognized as the campus teacher of the year three times (Milby in 1988, Teague in 2006, and Lewis in 2012), semifinalist for Houston I.S.D. Teacher of the Year in 1988, and Aldine I.S.D. Secondary Teacher of the Year in 2012.
Karen will be remembered for her kindness, laughter, and joy (and her delicious homemade cookies!) She led an active social life filled with a long-standing Bunco group, book clubs, regular theater outings, and early morning walks with friends around the neighborhood. She also enjoyed traveling with family and friends to visit historical and cultural landmarks.
Survivors include her husband, Aric Barnes, of Humble, Texas; her daughter, Kaitlin Barnes (Koji Takagi), of Baltimore, Md.; her son, A.J. Barnes, of Houston, Texas; her twin grandsons, Benjamin and Henry Takagi, of Baltimore, Md.; her brothers, Bryan Sander (Dee), of British Columbia, Canada, John Sander, Jr. (Rachel), of Olathe, Kan.; her sisters, Jo Oliver (Russ), of Wichita, Kan.; Dianne Dye (Phil), of Shawnee, Kan.; and Eileen Moore (Chris), of Dallas, Texas.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m., on Thursday, August 1, 2024, at Rosewood Funeral Home, 2602 S. Houston Ave., Humble, Texas 77396.
Memorial service will be held at noon on Friday, August 2, 2024, at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Aldine I.S.D. Education Foundation.