Karen Mae (Hastings) Carleton

Karen Mae Hastings Carleton, 88, passed away April 22, 2023, at her home in Idaho Falls. She was under the care of Aspen Home Health & Hospice and her brother.

Karen was born March 25, 1935. in Highgrove, California, to Lester Hastings and Mildred Brock Hastings. The family moved back to Idaho in 1944, where they were originally from. Karen attended school in Idaho Falls and Roberts, Idaho. After graduating from Roberts High School, she attended classes at the University of Idaho in Moscow and also learned stenography skills.

Karen moved to Westwood, California, while in her early 20s and worked as an administrative assistant for the CEO of a finance management firm in Beverly Hills. She later became a sales representative for a commercial furniture and interiors dealer in Los Angeles, where she met her future husband, James (Jim) Carleton. They were married in San Francisco on May 24, 1975, and lived in West Hollywood and Glendale, California, before moving outside of Fallbrook, California, years later. There they purchased a home with an orchard, fish pond, chicken coop and run, with a few chickens, 2 peacocks, a turtle, and also a fruit stand. What they didn't pick and sell in the fruit stand was sold to a packing house. In 2003, they moved to Idaho Falls to be closer to family. Her husband Jim preceded her in death on June 3, 2008.

She enjoyed cooking, gardening, quilting, politics, and reading. She attended Roberts Community Church, was a member of a quilt guild, and looked forward to the monthly lunch with a group of best friends from high school.

Survivors include her brother David Hastings, his sons Matthew and Aaron of Idaho Falls and stepson Bryan Martin of Rigby; niece Candace Moehnke of Texas; and nephew Brock Hastings of Idaho Falls and their families.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and brother Gary Hastings.

Services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at Wood Funeral Home, 273 North Ridge Avenue. The family will visit with friends from 2:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. prior to the service.