Karen (Vial) Upchurch

Heaven received a beautiful sole when Karen Lizabeth Upchurch (Vial) entered into rest on June 11, 2018. She was 64 years young.

Karen was born in Missoula, MT on January 29th, 1954, to Virgil and Velda Vial and moved to Alaska when she was two years old and remained a lifelong Alaskan. She attended schools in Anchorage and graduated in 1971 from East High School. She later received her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Wayland Baptist University in 1994, the first in her family. She then achieved her career goal of acquiring her CPA license, all while working full time and providing for her mother and two daughters. Karen was a strong and intelligent woman that was adventurous and enjoyed hiking, camping, fishing, gardening, and quilting. She had a great sense of humor, an amazing laugh, and a smile that would light up a room. She always took care of her family and will be greatly missed.

Karen is survived by her daughter Kristal Upchurch, of Portland, OR, brothers Michael Vial of Willow, AK, and Mark Vial and Connie Cavasos of Homer, AK. She was preceded in death by her daughter Kimberly Nueman of Katy, TX, parents Velda Vial of Hamilton, MT and Virgil Vial of Anchorage, AK, and sister in-law Jenifer Vial of Willow, AK.

Graveside services will be held at Riverside Cemetery in Hamilton, MT on August 18, 2018 at 11a.m. A reception for family and friends will follow at the Vial House, 221 North 6th Street in Hamilton, MT.

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