Karen Irene Cook, age 79 Kalamazoo, died peacefully at home with family on February 21, 2021. She was born on May 16th, 1941, in Kalamazoo, the daughter of Bill and Irene (Mohler) Walters. Karen was a Kalamazoo Central High School graduate and received her Bachelor's Degree in Special Education from Western Michigan University. She was a speech therapist for Dowagiac Union Schools, retiring in 2001. Her family includes her children: Jennifer (Marcus) Chambers and Andrew (Mimi) Cook; her grandchildren: Maya Chambers, Gryphon Chambers, and Gabriela Cook; her sister Janeen (Jerry) Emrick; her brother Bill Walters; and her nieces and nephew, Signe, Paul, and Kelly. She was preceded in death by her sister Sheila Pihlstrand and her niece Kirstin. Karen loved working with children and being a mom and grandma. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be directed to the Organization for Autism Research. Please visit Karen's webpage to sign her online guest book or leave a condolence. www.langelands.com