Karen Pinder

It is with great sadness to announce the death of my dear childhood and lifelong friend Karen Lee Hughes Freeman Pinder on June 17, 2025, after a long battle with dementia and related health issues. Oh yeah, she was my wonderful wife for the last 34 years, of our 70 plus years of friendship. We lived in Cornville, Arizona,

Karen was born in Akron, OH on October 11, 1948, to Mary Eileen and Willis Hughes, who preceded her in death. She graduated from Ellet high school, in Akron, OH in 1966. She then attended the University of Akron and worked at Ohio Bell, among other jobs. Karen was precocious from an early age. Brilliant, well read, she just soaked up knowledge. She had to be the smartest person in the room and honestly 95% of the time, she was.

Karen and I being friends for 70+ years? Unlikely. Think Dennis the menace and Margaret. I was a dyslexic jock, a complete goof off, while she was near the top of her class. I eventually got my stuff together and went to college in Kentucky. We kept in touch, cards, notes, etc. somehow, we just clicked.

While I was in School, life went on, and Karen got married in 1969. I was home for summer and was able to attend. They had two children.

After I graduated, I moved back to Akron where I worked for a while, got married and had a daughter. We were friends with Karen and her husband, did things as couples, and our kids enjoyed each other.

In 1973, we moved to PA so I could further my education, then moved to the Dallas area after graduation. Karen and her family moved to Scottsdale, AZ in 1974. Once in AZ Karen attended Arizona State University and the University of Phoenix, while working at Mountain Bell, (US West). She rose to be manager of personal professional services and traveled extensively throughout the West. She was an excellent and devoted businesswoman, yet we never lost touch.

Both of our marriages ended. Karen had 2 children, by this time and I had 3. Once again, life moves on.

In August 1992, I was in Denver at an educational seminar. I called home to check on the kids and was told I had a message from Karen. I called her back and we talked for 3-4 hours that night and the same the next night. I went ahead and blew off the rest of the seminar and headed to Scottsdale. We had a great time. Left on Friday, asked her to marry me on Sunday. It was meant to be. We married on Oct 10, 1992.

Karen took early retirement from the phone company and moved to Texas, where we settled in Rockwall, TX.

As stated before, Karen was gifted in business and she soon took a job as senior management consultant with Ernest & Young, where she worked personally with the titans of business, including Michael Dell at Dell Computers, Warren Buffet at BNSF, (who was so impressed by her that he took her to dinner), among others. To Karen, it was just another day at the office, doing her job.

After leaving Ernest and Young, Karen purchased and ran a very successful women’s clothing store in Rockwall, “The Peddler’s Cart”.

In 2003, we moved back to Arizona when I accepted a job offer, we moved to Fountain Hills, and Karen retired for good. I retired in 2016, and we moved to Cornville, AZ.

It was a wonderful happy life

On a personal level, Karen was a voracious reader, stanch liberal, and supported human rights of all sorts. Women, labor, LGBT, and all others. She was a gift to myself, family and the world.

Karen was preceded in death by son-in-law Drew Nystrom. She is survived by loving sister Jean (Jon) Turnipseed, Gilbert, AZ. And five wonderful children from our blended marriage: Wendi Frank (Tom), Plano, Texas, Mike Freeman (Liz) Duncanville, Texas, Irish Nystrom, Apache Junction, AZ, Bryan Pinder, Plano, Tx and Teresa Caldwell, flower Mound, TX. She also leaves twelve grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Many relatives will mourn her loss along with many friends including dear friends, Dorena Henson and Rita Briers, of the Akron, OH area.

As per Karen’s wishes, cremation has taken place, and no services are planned.

A special thank you to all the wonderful care she received from Hospice of Northen Arizona and Mingus Manor Assisted Living, for the last few months of her life. Great Staff, All. She was able to pass in peace, thanks to you.

Donations can be made in Karen’s name to the Charity of your choice.