Karen Elaine Pettitt Philbrick

Central Park resident, Karen Elaine Pettitt Philbrick, passed away at Summit Pacific Medical Center in Elma on March 25, 2026. She was 77 years old.

Karen was born on Aug. 8, 1948, in Bremerton, Washington, to parents Richard and Betty (Zane) Pettitt. Growing up in a military household, Karen and her family moved around a lot to places such as Alaska, Oregon, Maryland, Florida, and even Germany. She was a member of the Winter Park High School graduating class of 1966 and attended college for a while before starting her career in advertising and other computer related positions for a local newspaper publication. At one point, she even worked as a farmhand in Montana and volunteered at various fire camps to make sure the people fighting the wildfires were well cared for. Then on July 7, 2012, she married her soulmate, John Philbrick, in Phil Campbell, Alabama.

Karen thoroughly enjoyed the outdoors and was a self-proclaimed rockhound, collecting various stones, crystals, and gems to use in her craftwork and jewelry making. She loved all animals and even raised Arabian horses while she resided in Montana. But most of all, she loved her family and would do anything for them. She was the kind of person that people could rely on in their time of need and that generous, caring spirit will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Karen is survived by her loving husband, John Philbrick of Central Park, Washington; sons Danny (Jenny) Groseclose of Leonardtown, Maryland, Rick (Amber) Colwell of Tahuya, Washington, Jim (Shelly) Groseclose of Renobeth Beach, Delaware, John Philbrick Jr (Lenore) of Central Park, Washington, Jim Philbrick of Wisconsin, and David Philbrick of Alaska; daughters Shari (Landon) Brown of Seattle, Karen Philbrick of Hoquiam, Sara Richmond of Alabama, and Julie Hobbs of Hoquiam; brother Rick Pettitt of Olympia; sisters Sue Ekdahl of Florida, Cheryl Andersen of Idaho, and Wendy Holt of Litchfield Park, Arizona; Karen Slominski of Pullman, Washington; as well as her beloved 29 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Betty Pettitt and her son Joey Philbrick.