Karen Jane (O'Connor) Knight, 85, passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus on February 14, 2026, after an extended illness. She was born September 27, 1940, in South Bend, Indiana, to Russell and Gladys O'Connor.

Karen graduated from North Liberty High School and earned her Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education from Western Michigan University. After graduation, she moved to Ashland, Oregon, where she taught at Ashland College. While in Ashland, she met Earl "Skip" Knight, an Army soldier who had returned from Korea and was attending college to pursue a business degree. They fell in love and were later married in Indiana.

Karen moved to Minnesota, where she taught K-12 at Wilson School until 1977. The family then relocated to Albuquerque, New Mexico. There, she earned her master's degree from the University of New Mexico and was working toward her doctorate in Early Childhood Education. She accepted a position with the University of New Mexico and was instrumental in helping create early childhood education programs for several Native American tribes, establishing programs on multiple reservations across New Mexico.

In 1981, Karen began teaching at SY Jackson Elementary School in Albuquerque. She was a beloved kindergarten teacher and retired from Albuquerque Public Schools in 2004 after 47 years in education. Even after retirement, she continued volunteering at SY Jackson for five additional years, sharing her love of music and art. She also served as President of the New Mexico Association for the Education of Young Children for three years.

Karen worked hard throughout her life and enjoyed traveling to many countries and destinations across the United States.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Patrick O'Connor; her great-grandson, Adam; and her grandson, Charles.

She is survived by her sister, Linda (Gabriel) Vaszari of Spring Grove, Illinois; her daughter, Michelle (Wesley) Dennisson of McIntosh, New Mexico; honorary daughter Angel Mack of Lowell, AR; grandchildren Britney Card, Chelsea Wells, Shawn Will (Megan), Jessica Wells, Lacey Cromer (Westley), and Sharlotte Dennisson; great-grandchildren Danielle Zack, Delilah Wells, Killian Wells, Cody Wells, Grayson Cromer, Jackson Will, and Easton Cromer; great-great-grandson Sutton Garrett; and beloved nieces Melissa Knight (Henry) and Meghan Jacobsen (Billy), along with their families.

Karen, the matriarch of our family, will be greatly missed for her love, humor, dedication to children and education, and her strong and faithful spirit. Her legacy lives on in the countless students, families, and communities she touched throughout her remarkable life.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2026, 3:00 p.m. at The Elena Gallegos - Kiwanis Shelter, 7100 Tramway Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87122.