Karen (Tolman) Cammack

Karen Tolman Cammack, the most loving and beautiful wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully at home on April 16, 2024. Always positive and never complaining, Karen braved health problems for many years and is a longtime cancer survivor.

Karen was born in Price, Utah on October 28, 1942, the daughter of Rex C. and Vera Dunn Tolman. She had a happy childhood with brother David and sisters Ann, Marita, and Jeanne, as they grew up in Twin Falls, Idaho; Vale, Oregon; and Ontario, Oregon. She has missed her parents greatly since they passed away and we are comforted to know that she is enjoying a very happy reunion with them.

After graduating Ontario High School in 1960, she attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, studying Elementary Education, graduating Cum Laude in 1964. While at BYU, she married her high school sweetheart, M. LeRoy Cammack, in the Logan, Utah Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Temple on September 6, 1963. She and LeRoy had met and started dating in high school when they both worked for Karen’s family’s store, G & B Furniture.

After graduation, Karen taught third grade at Peruvian Park Elementary School in Sandy, Utah. Soon, Karen and LeRoy welcomed their first baby, Rebecca. Four more much-loved children followed: John, Laura, Bradley, and Brian.

Karen dedicated her life to LeRoy and her five children, providing them with a joyful childhood. We remember days of books, playing, music, and laughter. It was truly an ideal life. The family lived in Ontario, Oregon; Boise, Idaho; Burley, Idaho; Payette, Idaho; North Canton, Ohio; and settled back in their hometown of Ontario, where they have lived since 1981.

Karen enjoyed being a piano teacher and substitute teacher at her children’s elementary school. She has volunteered and served in many positions in her church throughout the years, including Relief Society President, primary teacher, organist, visiting teacher, cub scout leader, and working at the family history library. She loved serving others and if you ever had surprises dropped off on your doorstep anonymously, especially if you were going through a difficult time, they may very well have been from her.

LeRoy and Karen have been very involved in their community. Karen loves the city of Ontario. She served many years as a volunteer at the Four Rivers Cultural Center and as the Chairman of the Republican Women of Malheur County.

Karen has always blessed people’s lives through the arts. As a child, she learned to play the piano and the organ and has used these musical talents numerous times throughout the years. When her children were teenagers, she arranged the music and wrote the lyrics and dialogue for a roadshow for a youth church group.

In addition to musical talents, Karen is a gifted visual artist, adorning their home with drawings and paintings. As a grandmother, she painstakingly illustrated a book of scripture stories for her grandchildren. She worked on this project for a couple of years, wanting her grandchildren to grow up knowing that Heavenly Father and Jesus love them. She and LeRoy voice-recorded the stories to go along with the beautiful illustrations. This is a gift that her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren will always cherish.

Just a few months ago, Karen created five landscape oil paintings – one to give to each of her children. Each one is different, symbolizing her thoughts and feelings for each of them.

Karen has always been a voracious reader, loves spending time in the sunshine, listening to Elvis music, shopping for clothes, going out to lunch, watching classic TV shows with LeRoy, spending time with her family, and drinking vanilla cokes with extra vanilla from Burger West.

Karen has a strong testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She has loved her life with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She has always been an example of unwavering faith and hope and knowledge of the Lord’s love for her and for everyone. She is an example of positivity and kindness. We know that we will be with her again and be a family forever.

She was preceded in death by her parents and one grandson, Ryan Giles. She is survived by her loving husband LeRoy, children Becki (Francisco) Barrios, John (Chaundra), Laura, Brad, Brian (Shannon), 14 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren with two more on the way.

Funeral services will be held on April 27 at 10 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 661 S.W. 12th Street, Ontario, Oregon. Visitation will be held from 9:00-9:45 a.m.

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