Karen Jo (Shelton) Johnson

Karen Jo Shelton Johnson died on August 16, 2025, at Idaho Falls Community Hospital of complications from gallbladder cancer. Caring, witty, and generous through her last days, Karen passed away surrounded by her family and supported by the love of her extended family and close friends.

Karen was born on February 21, 1957, to Barbara and Robert “Bob” Shelton of Pocatello, Idaho. She was the oldest of five children with sisters, Joy and Jan, and brothers, Greg and Jeff. Karen cherished the close relationship with her parents and siblings, who have gathered regularly for holidays and annual camping trips to Sun Valley and Jackson Hole. Their love and support during the last several weeks of her life, sharing stories new and old, was a source of great comfort.

Karen had two children, Eric and Sara, whom she fiercely loved and supported. She never missed an event, and was their biggest cheerleader in education, careers, and life. Even as college and careers took them away from home, Karen always made them feel close with legendary care packages (including boxes of fresh, dirty potatoes each fall), weekly phone calls, and frequent visits. She loved her daughter-in-law, Jenny, and her son-in-law, Kenni, like her own children, welcoming them warmly and fully into her tight-knit family.

Karen met the love of her life, Kirt Johnson, on a blind date in 1992. Eric and Sara can still remember Kirt picking up their mom for that first date, wearing a sharp blazer and bearing fresh flowers. Although protective of their mother, Eric and Sara were quickly won over by Kirt's disarming nature and his clear love for Karen. Kirt and Karen would share 32 years of happy marriage, filled with camping trips, visiting kids and grandkids, and later in life, longer tours of New England, the Yosemite/Redwoods, and the Canadian Rockies. Kirt was her “rock,” always quick to complete a “honey-do,” and the most incredible care giver during her cancer treatments.

Karen graduated from Pocatello High School in 1975 and from Idaho State University in 1988. She taught second grade at Ethel Boyes Elementary, and was later the librarian and a reading teacher at Eagle Rock Junior High, both in Idaho Falls. She was also active in the Delta Kappa Gamma sorority for women educators.

Karen loved camping, playing cards, and spending time with family. She had a long-standing date with the Price is Right and the Today Show on weekday mornings, and loved watching classic cartoons (Scooby Doo, Flintstones, and the Jetsons) in the afternoons. But more than anything, Karen's true calling was as a devoted grandmother to her four grandsons, Emmett, Theo, Cooper, and Caleb. Whether cheering them on at activities or sports, making their Christmas holidays magical, or whisking them away for summer trips to Idaho, she was happiest when they were close by (and vice versa).

Karen is survived by her husband, Kirt; her son, Eric (Jenny) Jackson of Fayetteville, AR; her daughter, Sara (Kenni) Floyd of Rogers, AR; her father, Bob Shelton of Pocatello, ID; her sister, Joy (Marty) Matthews of Ketchum, ID; her sister, Jan Young of McMinnville, OR; her brother, Greg (Shelli) Shelton of Green River, WY; her brother, Jeff Shelton of Nampa, ID; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her mother, Barbara Shelton; her brothers-in-law, Doug Fisher and Mike Young; and her nephews, Scott Young and Kevin Shelton.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Karen's honor to the Huntsman Cancer Institute (Huntsman Cancer Foundation, 500 Huntsman Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108), whose providers offered comfort and hope at a time when she most needed it.

Karen's family would also like to thank the providers at Idaho Falls Community Hospital and Aspen Home Health and Hospice, who provided excellent and compassionate care to Karen (and her family) during her final weeks. We are so grateful for your skill, sensitivity, and humanity.

Karen did not wish to have a funeral, but her family is planning a celebration of life to be scheduled at a future date.