Karen Stout, 77, of Bakersfield passed away September 7, 2021 after a long battle with the progressive diseases of COPD and emphysema. She was born Karen Michele Baxter in Ventura on January 7, 1944 to Robert and Genevive Baxter. Karen was the second of two daughters, her sister Patty being nine years older. After her parents divorce, she was raised by and was very close to mother and stepfather, Milton Helmer. She attended Bakersfield High School, where she was active in both dance and theater. Always a sensitive and thoughtful person, Karen loved writing poetry and journaling throughout her life. 

 She married Richard Wilson when she was 19 years old, and soon gave birth to a daughter, Lisa, and later two sons, Mark and Mike. Later, in 1976, she married Ken Stout, who already had four older children, and they completed their blended family when their son Matt was born in 1978. Ken passed away in 2019 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. 

 Karen worked for several years as a bank teller at First Federal Savings and Loan, then as an administrative assistant at World Vision in Monrovia, California for many years, (a charity where she made lifelong friends) and later as an event planner at the DoubleTree hotel and Seven Oaks Country Club in Bakersfield.

Karen was very active in her church and in the lives of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren up until the very end. She led the Vessels of Faith women’s bible study for many years. She loved teaching and this study group allowed her to share the Word, encourage and mentor other women - a lifelong dream of hers.

A knee injury a few years back slowed her down a bit, and her diagnosis with COPD a bit more, but she still attended church, took care of her many beloved dogs, and visited friends and family. Karen was diagnosed with COVID in August 2021 and was briefly hospitalized. Shortly after her discharge from the hospital, Karen was placed on hospice care and moved in with her daughter, Lisa.

Unfortunately, she passed away suddenly on the morning of September 8, 2021. 

Karen is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Patty Corazza, husband Ken Stout and her stepdaughter Gail Smith. Karen is survived by her daughter Lisa Hockersmith, sons Mark (Margie) Wilson, Mike (Charissa) Wilson, Matt (Erin) Stout, stepson Bruce (Kirsten) Stout; and stepdaughters Debbie Coles and Janelle Rhodes; 16 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. The family is grateful for the outpouring of support from so many who also loved their mom. A celebration of her life will be held Saturday October 9, at 11:00 am at Liberty Christian Center, 8801 South “H” Street, Bakersfield.