Karmen Kay Nordhougen died quietly in her sleep on Dec. 17, 2018.

She was born Aug. 21, 1975, in Skagway, Alaska, to Robert and Myrna Nordhougen. She joined sisters Kristi and Kari and twin brothers Kyle and Kirk. The family moved to Washington in 1978. She graduated in 1993 from the White River School District, where she was involved in student council, National Honor Society, volleyball, softball and cheerleading. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and then taught for a number of years in the Seattle School District. She went on to earn a master’s degree in principalship.

She adored her “school kids” and loved dogs, adopting a number of dogs during her life and finding homes for others. She leaves behind her service dogs Papone and Kiomi.

Aside from her immediate family, she is survived by her significant other, Matthew Brown; mother Myrna Nordhougen of Buckley; sisters Kristi Dawson (Mike) of Buckley and Kari Ballmer (Jody) of Newcastle, Washington; and brothers Kyle Nordhougen of Buckley and Kirk Nordhougen (Maia) of Issequah, Washington.

She was preceded in death by her father, Bob Nordhougen, and her grandparents.