Goodyear, Arizona - Karen Elizabeth (Smith) West, 70, of Goodyear, Arizona, died Monday, January 6th, 2025 at Abrazo West Hospital in Goodyear from complications following a brain hemorrhage.

She was born in Kingman, Arizona on February the 27th, 1954, to Kent and LaRue Smith at Mohave General Hospital. Karen was a native Arizonan, descended on both sides from native Arizonans reaching back to territorial days. Both of Karen's parents were from the Gila River Valley in Eastern Arizona. When Karen was born, Kent and LaRue were operating the Cane Springs Ranch between Kingman and Wikieup, Arizona. Much of Karen's early life revolved around The Ranch. Karen and her family lived in Kingman when she entered high school, and she eventually graduated from Kingman High School in 1973.

Following high school Karen trained as a Dental Assistant at The Bryman School in Salt Lake City, Utah, serving an internship with a dentist in Provo, Utah. Karen later earned an Associate of Arts degree with an emphasis in Psychology from Weber State College in Ogden, Utah, and attended classes at ASU when she moved to Goodyear.

Karen worked in the office at Manzanita Elementary School, in Kingman, where she was the assistant school secretary from 1975 to 1982. Then, in 1982-83, she worked with Principal Betty Lawrence-Rowe to open Hualapai Elementary as the School Secretary. Karen would go on to hold a number of other secretarial jobs, including secretary at the Fashion Show Mall and the UNLV Music Department, both in Las Vegas, Nevada, but always held her days at Hualapai as the best.

Karen was active in church, with her favorite jobs being as Primary and Sunday School teacher in the various LDS Wards she attended. But Karen would have said that her most important job was always as Mother to her own children, Michael and Tiffin, whose lives reflect her devotion.

Karen was preceded in death by her father and mother, Kent and LaRue Smith, brother Michael Smith, grandson Maxwell Roberts, nephew Ross Smith Jr., and niece LaRee Smith.

Karen is survived by her husband of 53 years, Sam West, children Michael West and Tiffin (Tim Roberts) West, brothers Ross (Karran) Smith and Gary (Shirley) Smith, granddaughter Penelope Roberts, and nieces Dori, Sherri, LaRue, and Sandra, who were like sisters to Karen throughout her life.