Karen Sevy

Karen Sevy of Springfield, Mo., passed away Aug. 16, 2008, following a six month battle with cancer.

Karen was born in Aberdeen in 1958 to Al and Carol Jensen Prato. She moved to Oak Harbor with her family in 1961 when her father took a teaching position with the new Crescent Harbor Elementary School. Karen attended local schools and graduated from Oak Harbor High School in 1977.

She married Rob McDermitt who was serving in the Navy, and they had four children. The family lived in Oak Harbor, Lemoore, Calif., and Anacortes. After their divorce she married Robert Sevy in 1995. They made their home in Springfield. For several years they traveled around the U.S. supervising K-Mart remodels. Karen then worked as a customer representative for a communications company, and as a claims adjuster for United Health Group in Springfield.

She is survived by her husband, Bob; daughters Dusty and Amanda McDermitt of Springfield; sons Jason McDermitt, who is stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and currently serving in Iraq, and Travis McDermitt who is stationed at Fort Lewis. She had six, soon to be seven grandchildren who were her great joy. Karen is also survived by her parents, Al and Carol Prato of Oak Harbor, brother Scott Prato of Aberdeen, and sisters Andra Shelly of Oak Harbor and Lisa Davis of South Whidbey.

A memorial service was held in Springfield and there will be a family gathering in Oak Harbor at a later date to celebrate Karen’s life. Even though she lived in several other places, her home was always Whidbey Island, especially West Beach.