Karen Patricia Archuleta

Karen Patricia Archuleta passed away peacefully on May 27, 2022, with her family and friends by her side. Karen was born at Ridgecrest Community Hospital on March 19, 1970, to parents Ben and Margaret Archuleta.

Karen was a Ridgecrest native and long-time resident of Mesa, Arizona.  She attended St. Ann's School and James Monroe Junior High before graduating from Burroughs High School in 1988.

Karen moved to Morro Bay, California where she pursued cosmetology. She loved the central coast, especially Morro Bay. Later she moved to Mesa, Arizona where she made her home for the past 24 years. She earned a Business Management degree from the University of Phoenix leading to a career in the mortgage lending industry as an underwriter for BBVA/PNC.

As an avid tennis player, Karen's passion for the game led her to competing in league play with the USTA Southwest Phoenix Tennis Association. She traveled to play in Gourmet Cup tennis events all around the United States. In 2019 she held a women's singles USTA NTRP rating of 4.5 and was ranked #5 out of #143 for the Chandler Tennis Center.

Another passion she enjoyed was traveling to Native American powwows where she loved being part of the grand entry, hearing the drums, singing, and dancing. She appreciated the artistry, culture, and stories of native crafts, pottery, baskets, rugs, and jewelry-making. Karen was an enrolled member of the Lone Pine Paiute-Shoshone Tribe.

She will be missed by all including her fur babies, Romeo, and Smokey.

Karen is survived by parents Ben and Margaret of Ridgecrest, sisters, Michelle, Barbara and Bridget of Phoenix, Margaret and brother-in-law Paul of Ridgecrest, as well as nieces Claire Wolf and Brittany Bergens. She was preceded in death by her Aunt Mary, and niece Lauren.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the https://americanindiancancer.org/about-aicaf/

Karen's Memorial Mass will be Saturday, July 30, at 10am St. Ann's Catholic Church in Ridgecrest, CA.  A reception will immediately follow in the Kevin Cleary Parish Hall. Interment of ashes will be at the Mt. Whitney Cemetery, in Lone Pine, California.