Karen
Karen L (Myers) Payst
d. February 20, 2017
Delanson- Karen L. Payst, 69, of Delanson, passed away peacefully at her home after a short illness on Monday February 20, 2017.
Karen was born on March 1, 1947 and was the eldest daughter of Edward and Kathryn Myers. She graduated from Schoharie Central School and SUNY Cobleskill. She was employed at the Duanesburg Central School District as a paraprofessional until her retirement.
Karen is survived by her husband of 48 years Robert “Pat” Payst of Delanson, daughter Jennifer Payst (Michael Vooys) of Delanson, daughter Sandra (Paul) Scott of Skaneateles, son Robert Payst of Schoharie and daughter Eileen Payst of Rochester, three grandchildren Dakota Wilson (Fiancée Samantha Crabill), Jillian Scott and Patrick Scott: her sisters Susan (Tom) Martin of Porter Corners and Gail (Peter) Connolly of Savannah Georgia and many nieces and nephews.
Karen’s love for her family, especially her children and grandchildren, was the joy of her life. Along with her husband Pat, she raised their children to feel supported in any choice they made in life. She was immensely proud of each of her four children and three grandchildren. She spoke of each of them so highly it was as if the others didn’t exist, until she moved on to speak about the next one! This love carried over to all her nieces and nephews, her friends' children and her students in Duanesburg.
Karen felt so lucky to be able to share her life with her husband and best friend Pat in the stone house where he grew up on Barton Hill Road. She loved this house and the land. Her passions for family history, antiques, cooking, and flower gardening flourished at this homestead. She was often on the porch or the back deck in the summertime simply admiring the beauty of the yard, barns, and horses in the field. She and Pat just adored their extended family and hosted gatherings often. They always have food and beds ready because, as Pat says ,“you never know who is going to drop by.” Karen loved to participate in the Payst family tradition of multi player competitive solitaire!
Karen also loved to host her family and friends at their camp at the Great Sacandaga Lake. Along with their beloved friends Marty and Kathy Williams they spent summers there raising their families together. Both families have great memories of being together at camp, including Fourth of July fireworks and Labor Day clam bakes. The families and friends celebrated Karen and Pat’s 25th wedding anniversary there.
Karen also enjoyed travelling the world. She and Pat began their travels with newborn daughter Jennifer when they lived in Germany during Pat’s US Army tour. They traveled only a few times while the children were growing up to Florida and a visit to daughter Eileen in Spain. After Pat retired, their traveling passion really took off. They loved meeting people and experiencing other cultures. Karen had so many amazing adventures with Pat and their close friends Dave and Barb Petersen-she star gazed in the Atacama Desert, rode camel in Morocco, adored Monet’s Garden in Giverny,felt all the emotion of the WWII cemetery in Normandy, enjoyed the best steak of her life in Buenos Aires ,explored Machu Piccu and stayed with a Peruvian family in the Andes Mountains ,walked the underground tunnels of the Salt Cathedral in Colombia, swam the Blue Lagoon hot spring in Iceland, enjoyed absolutely incredible fresh seafood in Chile, floated down the Napo River in a canoe in Ecuador , raved about the Iguazu Falls in Brazil and Argentina ,and enjoyed the beach in Nantucket many times. The most beloved destination of all was Turkey. For Karen and Pat, Istanbul was a yearly trip and they considered it their second home. They adore their wonderful hosts at the Kybele Hotel and cherish all the friends they have made there.
Karen enjoyed watching baseball and had an immense love of the New York Yankees. She often reminisced about watching games with her mother -in -law and cheering for her favorite players Thurman Munson and Reggie Jackson. Later in life she enjoyed football as well, especially the Green Bay Packers ,which was the favorite team of her late cousin Dale Sitts.
Family and friends are invited to call at the White VanBuren Funeral Home 1779 Main Street Delanson NY on Saturday February 25, 2017 from 1 pm to 4 pm. Immediately following funeral services will begin at the funeral home. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers please gather with friends and family and have a great time together, or plan a trip to somewhere you have never been.
Karen was born on March 1, 1947 and was the eldest daughter of Edward and Kathryn Myers. She graduated from Schoharie Central School and SUNY Cobleskill. She was employed at the Duanesburg Central School District as a paraprofessional until her retirement.
Karen is survived by her husband of 48 years Robert “Pat” Payst of Delanson, daughter Jennifer Payst (Michael Vooys) of Delanson, daughter Sandra (Paul) Scott of Skaneateles, son Robert Payst of Schoharie and daughter Eileen Payst of Rochester, three grandchildren Dakota Wilson (Fiancée Samantha Crabill), Jillian Scott and Patrick Scott: her sisters Susan (Tom) Martin of Porter Corners and Gail (Peter) Connolly of Savannah Georgia and many nieces and nephews.
Karen’s love for her family, especially her children and grandchildren, was the joy of her life. Along with her husband Pat, she raised their children to feel supported in any choice they made in life. She was immensely proud of each of her four children and three grandchildren. She spoke of each of them so highly it was as if the others didn’t exist, until she moved on to speak about the next one! This love carried over to all her nieces and nephews, her friends' children and her students in Duanesburg.
Karen felt so lucky to be able to share her life with her husband and best friend Pat in the stone house where he grew up on Barton Hill Road. She loved this house and the land. Her passions for family history, antiques, cooking, and flower gardening flourished at this homestead. She was often on the porch or the back deck in the summertime simply admiring the beauty of the yard, barns, and horses in the field. She and Pat just adored their extended family and hosted gatherings often. They always have food and beds ready because, as Pat says ,“you never know who is going to drop by.” Karen loved to participate in the Payst family tradition of multi player competitive solitaire!
Karen also loved to host her family and friends at their camp at the Great Sacandaga Lake. Along with their beloved friends Marty and Kathy Williams they spent summers there raising their families together. Both families have great memories of being together at camp, including Fourth of July fireworks and Labor Day clam bakes. The families and friends celebrated Karen and Pat’s 25th wedding anniversary there.
Karen also enjoyed travelling the world. She and Pat began their travels with newborn daughter Jennifer when they lived in Germany during Pat’s US Army tour. They traveled only a few times while the children were growing up to Florida and a visit to daughter Eileen in Spain. After Pat retired, their traveling passion really took off. They loved meeting people and experiencing other cultures. Karen had so many amazing adventures with Pat and their close friends Dave and Barb Petersen-she star gazed in the Atacama Desert, rode camel in Morocco, adored Monet’s Garden in Giverny,felt all the emotion of the WWII cemetery in Normandy, enjoyed the best steak of her life in Buenos Aires ,explored Machu Piccu and stayed with a Peruvian family in the Andes Mountains ,walked the underground tunnels of the Salt Cathedral in Colombia, swam the Blue Lagoon hot spring in Iceland, enjoyed absolutely incredible fresh seafood in Chile, floated down the Napo River in a canoe in Ecuador , raved about the Iguazu Falls in Brazil and Argentina ,and enjoyed the beach in Nantucket many times. The most beloved destination of all was Turkey. For Karen and Pat, Istanbul was a yearly trip and they considered it their second home. They adore their wonderful hosts at the Kybele Hotel and cherish all the friends they have made there.
Karen enjoyed watching baseball and had an immense love of the New York Yankees. She often reminisced about watching games with her mother -in -law and cheering for her favorite players Thurman Munson and Reggie Jackson. Later in life she enjoyed football as well, especially the Green Bay Packers ,which was the favorite team of her late cousin Dale Sitts.
Family and friends are invited to call at the White VanBuren Funeral Home 1779 Main Street Delanson NY on Saturday February 25, 2017 from 1 pm to 4 pm. Immediately following funeral services will begin at the funeral home. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers please gather with friends and family and have a great time together, or plan a trip to somewhere you have never been.
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