Karel Ann Barrett, 61

Karel Ann Barrett, 61, passed away on Aug. 12, 2015, after a three-year battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her loving family.

Karel was born to Andy and Theresa (Dykhoff) Hursman in Great Falls.

Karel graduated from Great Falls High School in 1972. She married the love of her life, Ken Barrett, in 1975. Ken was in the U.S. Air Force and they moved to Tacoma, Washington. Their three boys were all born there. From 1983 to 1986 they were stationed in Guam.

They came back to the states and lived in Cabot, Arkansas, for seven years. While in Arkansas, Karel worked for a veterinary clinic. She always loved animals. Ken retired from the Air Force in 1992 and they moved to Kalispell. In 1994, Karel began working in home health care. Karel especially enjoyed working with one family she held dear to her heart. Karel retired in 2014 because of health reasons.

Karel was a wonderful gardener and loved to sew and special times with her boys and grandchildren. She did all kinds of canning and most recently she remodeled her whole house.

Karel was preceded in death by her father, mother, step father, brother Randy, and nephew Brian Hall.

She is survived by her husband, Ken; sons, Travis and Leigha, David and Shawn and Nikki; grandchildren; Natalie Toetz, Trevor and Emmalie Barrett, Mikaela and Jace Barrett; sister Kathy and Rick Skinner; brother Kelly and Julie Hursman; nephews, Shane and Amy Hall and Danny Gustafson and niece Alex Skinner with many great nieces and nephews; sister-in-law, Shellie Laroche, and brother-in-law, Terry Barrett.

Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 20, at Risen Christ Catholic Church in Kalispell  

The family suggests in lieu of flowers donations to be given to Wings Cancer Foundation, or Home Options Hospice.

Johnson Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for Karel’s family.