CLYMER, Karen Marie

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Tuesday, April 05, 2011 Karen Marie Clymer was born Oct. 19, 1948, in Grants Pass, Ore, and passed away April 2, 2011. She was the daughter of Fred and Louise Jeddeloh. Karen grew up in Grants Pass, graduating from Grants Pass High in 1966. After graduating from Linfield College, Karen moved to Modesto, Calif., where she resided a time before starting a master's degree at the University of Southern Illinois, Carbondale. In the early 1970s, she moved to Clinton, Ill., and worked for the United Parcel Service. While in Clinton, Karen provided a foster home to girls who needed a stable, loving home. One of the girls, Tracy, became a lifelong friend. It was in Clinton she met her husband, Denny. They were married in 1984. Her local articles for UPS company newsletter The Big Idea attracted attention, and she was eventually promoted to manager of employee communications in the UPS head office in New York. She and Denny moved to Connecticut. Karen was never happy in corporate life and wanted to start her own business. About 1988, Karen and Denny moved to Chino Valley, Ariz. Karen's father had had mobility problems, so Karen decided to start a mail-order business that featured independent living-aid products, Access With Ease. Karen always loved animals. From her early childhood, she always wanted a horse. Karen chose the southwest so that she could finally have room for a horse and lots of dogs. Karen was a well-known dog trainer and instructor locally and statewide. She completed multiple herding championships and obedience titles. She was the founder of the Chino Valley Canine Training Club in 1989 and has always been very active in the club and its activities. She was also a lifetime member of the Prescott Arizona Kennel Club. Karen has held officer positions in the CVCTC, the PAKC, the American Herding Association and the BACC. She was an AHBA judge, an AKC Rally judge and obedience judge, has actively supported the local dog rescue organizations, worked with the Yavapai County Fairgrounds and performed herding demos at the Highland Games. She was an expert in canine behavior, care, training and management. At the time of her death, she was teaching a canine behavior course at Yavapai College. Karen also performed sheep-shearing demos at Sharlot Hall Museum. In addition, she would card and weave wool from her sheep. Karen has touched a lot of lives in the dog community and will be missed very much. Karen is survived by her brothers, George Jeddeloh of Ashland, Ore., John Jeddeloh and Alan Jeddeloh of Portland, Ore.; her beloved niece and nephew Laura and Andrew Jeddeloh of Portland; her foster daughter Tracy Weakley of Baltimore, Md.; her dogs, Ember, Spot, Star, Sweep and Tess; and her horse, Silver. Visitation is at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 6, 2011, with services following at 11 a.m. at the Center for Spiritual Living, 3755 Willow Creek Road, Prescott. Refreshments following in the church hall. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the 'Lucky Club' dog rescue. Family service by the Heritage Memory Mortuary, Prescott. For Karen's online guestbook, please visit www.heritagefuneralchapels.com. Information provided by survivors.