Karen Jean Couch, age 76, passed away peacefully on July 19, 2025, at her home in Akron, Colorado, surrounded by her loving family.

Karen was born in Sterling, Colorado, the first of five children to David and Lillian Amen. She was raised on a farm in Merino, where she shared a childhood full of simple joys and hard work with her siblings—Marylin, Alan, Gary, and David. From a young age, Karen's quiet, gentle spirit shone through. She found beauty in life's simple blessings: her steadfast faith, the love of her family, the peace of her garden, and the comfort of caring for her animals.

She married her high school sweetheart Ray Couch in 1969, and over the next 56 years together they built a life filled with love, raising three children: Wendy, Doug, and Jayme on a small dairy farm in northeastern Colorado. Long after the dairy was gone she still enjoyed taking care of her chickens and preserving the lives of dozens of barn cats.  Her greatest pride and joy were her grandchildren—Austin, Torey, Wesley, Terran, Logan, Bailey, Dawson, Delaney, Luca, Kendall, Elliot, Chandler and Gus—and her great-grandchildren: Timmy, Macy, Abby, and Allison, Harley, Mateo and Cameron. Nothing lit up her face more than time spent with them. Grandma could always be counted on to have a treat for them.

Karen was known for her incredible banana bread, her green thumb in the garden, her gentle way with animals—and her deep Christian faith. A longtime member of Emmanuel Baptist Church, she leaned on her relationship with Jesus through every season of life. Her quiet strength, humility, and unwavering belief left a lasting impact on those who knew her.

Karen is now rejoicing in Heaven, reunited with her beloved son Doug, her dear parents Lillian and David, and her cherished brother Alan. Their reunion in Heaven is a reminder of the hope and promise of eternal life.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 2, at 11:00 a.m. at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Sterling, Colorado. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to the church in Karen's honor.

She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew her.