Karen Jean Zillyette-Rogers, 66, a lifelong resident of the Harbor, died at her home in Montesano Saturday, July 30, 2016. She was born in Aberdeen, January 31, 1950, the daughter of Leo and Hazel (Dills) Wilder. She was raised in Montesano and had attended Montesano schools.
As a teenager, Karen had worked at Swaneze in the Becker Building, Aberdeen. Later at the offices at DSHS in Aberdeen and also Data Processing in Aberdeen. Most of working years, though, were at the Cosmopolis Weyerhaeuser Pulp Mill, retiring in the early 2000’s.
She had married Larry Zillyette in 1966 in Montesano. The marriage later ended in divorce, but they had remained good friends. She would then marry Larry Rogers in Montesano in 2011 and Larry survives her at the family home in Montesano.
Karen was a member of the Montesano Moose, Elma Eagles and the pinochle clubs of Elma and Montesano. She also enjoyed bingo, painting and paint classes and other crafts. She loved watching the grandkids play baseball.
Besides her husband, Larry, she is survived by a daughter: Brenda Zillyette and her companion, Randy Holm, Satsop; two-step daughters: Julie Lorenz, in Michigan and April Rogers, Montesano; a son: Sam Zillyette, Elma and a step-son: Dale Rogers, Montesano; her former husband: Larry Zillyette, Brady; two sisters: Carol and husband Bill Muhlhauser, Aberdeen and Ruth and husband Frank Leopard, Aberdeen; a sister-in-law: Linda Wilder, Satsop; seven grandchildren: Cody, Taylor, Sara and Chad Zillyette, Nina Holm, Samantha Star and Heather Lorenz; and five great grandchildren: Kaylynn and Carter Zillyette and Owen, Corbyn and Hunter. A twin sister, Sharon Jane Ninemire, preceded her in death in 2013.
A memorial service will be held at 1 PM Sunday, August 7th in the Satsop Methodist Church, 445 Ash Rd. in Satsop. A reception will follow at the church.
The family suggests memorials may be made to the Satsop Methodist Church, 445 Ash Rd., Satsop, WA 98583; the Montesano Moose, 3 Monte-Elma Rd., Montesano, WA 98563; or a charity of your choice.
A card of condolence with a memory or a message may be sent to the family at www.fernhillfuneral.com
Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Twibell’s Fern Hill Funeral Home, 2208 Roosevelt St., Aberdeen, WA 98520