Karen J. Gehrett

Karen J. (Crahall) Gehrett, 64, of Lewistown, passed peacefully on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, surrounded by her family at home, after succumbing to her battle with large B-Cell lymphoma.

Born Nov. 25, 1953, in Courtdale, she was the daughter of the late Brinley and Helen C. (Kwiatrowski) Crahall.

She is survived by: her husband, C. William (Bill) Gehrett; children, Kathryn Minemyer and husband, Barry, of Bloomsburg, Patricia M. Gehrett, of Cary, N.C., and Charles William Gehrett III, of Chambersburg; two granddaughters, Natalie and Alexis; a brother, Brinley Crahall and wife, Jane, of Larksville.

Karen graduated from Wyoming Valley West High School in Plymouth, Class of 1971. She continued her education at Bloomsburg State College, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in secondary education with a concentration in English. While pursuing her master’s degree, she substituted in Wyoming Valley West School District and worked as a secretary for the West Side Council of Governments. Her teaching career began in the Mifflin County School District in 1977 at Strodes Mills Middle School. She was the only teacher to teach at that facility for the school’s entire existence. She began there when the school opened as a middle school. She was an English/reading teacher at Mifflin County Middle School, retiring after 34 years of service. She was a member of Yeagertown Holy Communion Lutheran Church.

Her interests included her passion for words and language. She credits her parents, who were both avid readers, with instilling the importance of an education and in doing well. She also treasured times spent with family, trips to the shore, baking, needlework, playing in the bell choir at Holy Communion Lutheran Church, crossword puzzles, fierce scrabble games with family and coaxing flowers in the garden during summer.

A viewing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, at Heller-Hoenstine Funeral Homes, Woodlawn, 200 N. Main St., Lewistown.

A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, at Heller-Hoenstine Funeral Homes, Woodlawn, 200 N. Main St., Lewistown, with Rev. Philip Tundell.

Memorial contributions in Karen’s name may be made to: Osterhout Free Library, 71 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701, where Mrs. Gehrett has fond memories of spending Thursday evenings with her dad in the library selecting and reading childrens’ books.

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