Karen Ruth Arthur

Karen, as the oldest of Bill and Ruth’s seven children, was a big help in caring for the large family that includes Susan, Liane, Bill, Vincent, David and Steven.

She was a graduate of St. Cyprian’s School and went onto the brand-new St. Joseph’s High School and then Millikan High School. She was in the first class in the Nursing Program at Long Beach City College that granted an RN Degree in two years. Karen thrived in that environment and went to work immediately after graduation at Long Beach Memorial Hospital. Most of her forty-four-year nursing career was spent there. Along the way, she earned her Master’s Degree in Gerontology.

Karen and Richard Carlson were married in October, 1975 at St. Cyprian’s Church. They lived in Long Beach and Lakewood and had two wonderful sons, Bryan Richard (1978) and Neil Thomas (1981).

When Karen was single again, she bought her dear Grandmother Carol’s house, near the home she grew up in. Eventually she was able to remodel it, with the help of her father’s design and her brother, Bill’s, construction expertise. It was a dream home and a great party house. Karen’s cooking skills and talent for entertaining made it a fun destination for so many friends and family.

There are four grandchildren that will dearly miss their grandmother, Wylend, Fionna, Rhiannon and Nicolas. And there is a brand-new baby granddaughter that had just met Grandma Karen. Finley Marie was just born on November 10 and was a great thrill for Karen.

Karen will be missed by so many friends and everyone in her large family. Her sense of humor was infectious and she was so helpful, loyal and beautiful.

Luyben Dilday Mortuary (562) 425-6401