Karen Hancey Sullivan

10/18/1942 — 10/19/2024

Karen was born to Marjorie Lee Hancey and Jack Hancey just days before Jack enlisted in the Signal Corps and dispatched to the Philippines in the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Karen was a remarkably beautiful child, raised by her mother and a fleet of aunts who adored her, and whose husbands were off at war.

Marjorie and Jack moved to Clearfield, where they raised four children in a tiny post-WWII house. Karen came of age when Elvis Presley hit the charts but missed the tumult/freedom of the Sixties that her younger siblings enjoyed. Instead, at 17, Karen married Blair Sheffield. They honeymooned at the futuristic Seattle World’s Fair. When they got back, they bought a Chihuahua, before any of us had ever heard of a Chihuahua. They moved to Ogden and, over the next decade, had three children – Gary, Blake, and Paige. Karen held a variety of jobs – seamstress at Utah Tailoring Mills, veterinary assistant, and later as a scrub tech at Davis North Hospital.

In the 1970’s a cat featured large in Karen’s life. Her sister kept leaving her problematic cat with their mother, so Karen decided to spirit the cat to the monastery in Huntsville to see if they needed a barn cat. On that day, Karen enjoyed her chat with a couple of the monks who were allowed to talk with the public, and so began to visit the monastery regularly. During this time, she and Blair divorced. She became good friends with Brother Isadore (Izzy) who, though he had been a Trappist monk for 25 years, was exceptionally outgoing. Over time, she and Izzy became close, and decided to marry. He left the Abbey of Our Lady of the Holy Trinity, and they married in 1975. Izzy became a beloved stepfather to Karen’s adolescent children. Though it was initially tough to envision a Trappist monk as an in-law, eventually the entire Hancey family adored Izzy.

Karen was the kind of big sister who would knit tiny sweaters for her sisters’ Barbie dolls, and who sewed matching pjs for family members. She pulled her siblings out of school to witness JFK’s motorcade in SLC in September of 1963. She loved jewelry and animals, in equal measure, and often too much. And when her sister’s dog was failing, she and Izzy drove 120 miles just to say goodbye. But life wasn’t always easy for Karen and for those around her. She suffered a lot of health problems and strained relationships over her lifetime. Her mother, who was her best friend, died in 2015. Izzy died the next year, and Karen never recovered her sensibility after that

Preceded in death are Karen’s parents, Charles (Izzy) Sullivan, great-granddaughters Aspen and Charlie, and sister Judy Hancey. Surviving family members include Gary (Theresa) Sheffield, Blake (Mindy) Sheffield, Paige (Lyle) Morse; grandchildren Mat, Brittany, Cade, Carter, Taylor, Mackenzie; great-grandchildren George, Caroline, Grayson, Daxton; and siblings Kim Hancey Duffy and Alan Hancey. The family will hold a private service.

Arrangements entrusted to Myers Mortuary, 845 Washington Blvd., Ogden.

Condolences may be made through Myers Mortuary http://www.myers-mortuary.com.