Karla Peters Austin

Karla Peters Austin, 55, of Cove, died Aug. 30 of cancer.

A memorial service will be held in Cove the summer of 2009 for family and friends.

Karla was born Oct. 1, 1952, to Marvin and Marion Peters in Detroit, Mich. She graduated from the University of Nevada, receiving a certificate of radiology tech. She pursued a career in radiology from New Mexico to Minnesota and finally Washington State.

Karla's love of plants and the environment led her to become a master gardener. Her love of wide-open spaces, gardening and the beauty of nature kept her rooted in the Northwest. She received her associate's degree in horticulture at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia, Wash. Wanting more, she attended Evergreen State College and graduated with a bachelor's degree in environmental science. She went on to Portland State for a master's in geography.

AS Karla worked and pursued her education, she continued gardening, canning, freezing and drying the foods she loved to grow, cook, eat and share. She and soon-to-be husband Richard Austin transitioned from Chehalis, Wash., to Joseph where they married in the city park on Sept. 3, 1993, a date notably picked by Karla so her husband could remember the anniversary.

Karla and Richard lived there for 12 years before moving to Cove where they established their new home. Just as they started to settle in, Karla contracted cancer. She fought a long hard battle and succumbed to the disease after a year.

As a daughter of military parents, she was exposed to much and varied travel, living as far away as Guam. Travel was Karla's second love, something she pursued throughout her life. Highlights included sticking her toes in the Arctic Ocean and travel to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.

Karla never had children of her own, but directed her energy toward her nieces and nephews. After retirement, she delighted in helping the museum in Joseph. And always she had her garden.

She is survived by her husband and great love, Richard Austin; parents, Marion and Marvin Peters of Peoria, Ariz.; brother and sister-in-law, Brian and Pamela Peters of Willmar, Minn.; sister and brother-in-law, Laura and Roderick Thompson of Cumberland, R.I.; sister, Rita Kidder of Lake Havasu City; former husband, Albert Walp; eight nieces and nephews; numerous cousins and friends.

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