Karen Quarles

1944 - 2025

Karen Westly Quarles, a 50-year resident of Sonoma County, passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, September 18th, at the Varenna Retirement Center in Santa Rosa.
She was born on an air force base in Dyersburg, TN, on January 16th, 1944, during WWII. Because her father was a bomber pilot in the US Army Air Corps, the family moved frequently during her early years. When she was 10 years old, the family moved to California, where she would spend most of the rest of her life. Karen attended Menlo Atherton High School, where she was a competitive diver and graduated in 1962. She then attended Steven's College in Columbia, Missouri.
Karen started her career as a flight attendant for United Airlines in Seattle. She soon changed careers and became a dental hygienist at the Palo Alto Dental Clinic, where she would meet her future husband, Larry Quarles, through a mutual friend.
She married Larry in 1968, and they moved to Sonoma County. Karen was an accomplished skier and was active in the community. She was especially happy to work with her beloved therapy dog, Bella, as a volunteer at the Santa Rosa Airport. After her two children went off to college, Karen decided to pursue a lifelong dream of modeling and acting. She was initially chosen as an "extra" on the popular TV series Nash Bridges, where she appeared regularly for the next 12 years.
She is survived by her husband Larry Quarles, her daughter Lia Padilla, her brothers Dean and Steve Westly, and seven nieces and nephews.
There will be a short Celebration of Life service at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 18, in the Garden Room at the Varenna Retirement Center at 1401 Fountain Grove Parkway, Santa Rosa, CA. We are respectfully asking people to consider supporting the Canine Companions Headquarters and Northwest Training Center in Santa Rosa instead of flowers.