March 30, 1949 - August 15, 2025
Karen Gail Wax graduated to her Heavenly home on 15 August, 2025. Karen was born in Enid, Oklahoma to William and Opal Shoemaker on 30 March, 1949. She resided in Mesa, Arizona at her time of death.
Growing up Karen was a military child. She traveled paces and as a little girl she remembers the family at one time living in Bermuda.
In 1968 is when her parents Bill and Opal bought the home off Imo Road. Many memories were made there at that home. She always talked about all the family getting together at mom and dad's. She loved riding horses, being outdoors camping, bbq's, family getting together to eat meals(fish fries, chili, spaghetti dinner nights), and the camping trips of all of us together.
Karen would fillet the fish all the guys would catch and then they would meet up at the little blue farm house on the corner of Imo Road and Fox Drive in Enid Oklahoma. Kim and Kristie usually made the fries with Cindy, Kathy made the coleslaw and Elaine made the hush puppies. Karen enjoyed getting the family together for Christmas. She would usually get everyone started with putting up the tree the day after Thanksgiving . The girls inside and the guys outside hooking up the lights. She loved her home in Snowflake, Arizona. She called it her little piece of heaven.
Karen attended Mesa High School in Mesa, Arizona but the family moved to Smyer, Texas before she graduated. She took a course to obtain her diploma, which she did in 1967.
Karen went back to school at O.T. Autry Votech to take a course in computer / word processing to advance herself in a better paying job. She began to work at St. Mary's Hospital as a data entry clerk from 1980 to 1984.
When Kim, her daughter, graduated high school in 1984 Karen decided to also move to Arizona. She worked at KMart making $75/ week. She met a lady who told her to go apply at a title agency. Karen asked if she had the job and the lady said yes you have the job as of right now. So Karen began to work as an Escrow Officer fir First American Title. She made $800 to $850/ month.
Later Karen transferred and began to work at Old Republic Title. She retired due to medical reasons from having a stroke.
Karen is survived by her husband Bobby Wax , her siblings Rodney Shoemaker and Brad Shoemaker both of Mesa, Arizona; her sister Janie Kinney O'Brien (Mike) of Enid, Oklahoma, her daughters Kimberly Wagner(Ray) of Mesa, Arizona, Kristie Lemley (Stephen) of Enid, Oklahoma, Charlene Delong (Joe) of Apache Junction, Arizona, Jolene Groover and Carley Demery of Mesa, Arizona, her son Kevin Hall of Albuquerque, NM.
Her grandchildren Sierra Buckley (Lloyd) of Mesa, Arizona, Karinda Oswald (Jaccup Eubank)of Lovington, NM, Jacob Crofts of Enid, Oklahoma, Jerrod Lemley(Kala) of Lovington, NM, Haley Lemley (Braydon Bilbo) of Hobbs, NM, Jesse Bloomquist, Mathew Hall, Mckenzie Hall of AZ, Cheyenne, Jessica Jimenez (John) of Flagstaff, Arizona, Robbie Delong of AZ, Jacob Delong of Apache-Junction, AZ, Christine Groover of AZ, James Demery of Mesa, AZ, Ashley Demery of Mesa, AZ.
Her great grandchildren Landen, Rayelle, and Koda Buckley, Joeshia (JJ) Ficklin, Derreck Ficklin, Xavier, Makaelee and Aydryn Eubank, William Bilbo, Tanerite Crofts, Dakota, Rose, Faith, Aaron Hall, McKenna and Jax Bloomquist, Isaac, Derec and Alec Jimenez, Kayli Hamby and Ayden Delong, Delineate, Lylah and Konnor Kona, Revlyn Murphy, Rosie Delong.
Nieces Michele Poplin McPherson (R Scott) of AZ, Melissa Doebler (Gary) of Dragoon, AZ, Misty Vartanian of Enid, OK, Mindy Bohnstedt (Randy) of Hennessy, OK, Jennifer Fletcher (Jeffrey) of Navarre, FL, Shayla Gibson ( Mitchell) of Nevada.
Nephews Michael Poplin of AZ, Billy Packan of Maine, Cody Shoemaker of Del City, OK and Martin Gerst (Vanessa) of Germany, plus many great nieces, nephews, as well as loving friends and family.
Karen was proceeded in death by her grandparents Everett and Rachel Jones, both parents William and Opal Shoemaker, two sisters Kathy Packan and Cindy Peters, brother Michael Poplin, two nephews Shane Gerst and Robert Packan, niece Melanie Poplin Newby and sister in law Shirley Jones, son in law Ray Wagner.
