WEIGHT, Karen Jean If you must cry... Plant your tears as seeds. 1946-2007 Karen Weight passed away April 26 after a 10 month battle with ovarian cancer. She dealt with the dying process with the utmost grace and dignity, and was in the presence of family and people she loved as she passed on. Karen Jean Chatham was born Feb. 6, 1946, in Pittsburg, Pa., to William G. and Maxine P. Chatham. She spent most of her young childhood years in Drain, Ore., and two years living with her grandparents in West Virginia before her family moved to Sacramento. Upon graduating from high school in Sacramento, she attended Linfield College for two years. After meeting at mutual friend's wedding, Karen married Harold Weight on March 18, 1967. They resided in Tigard for 10 years and then in Portland until her death. They have two daughters, Danña and Kara, who have blessed them with four grandchildren. Karen often said she wanted 10 children - she did not change her mind, but rather her focus. At various times foreign exchange students resided in their household, as well as other young people who needed a place to live temporarily. In 1980, a Laotian refugee family of five came to live with them as well - a life changing experience. To this day, Karen served as mentor to this family, long after they were living on their own. Karen was always active in her spiritual community. While living in Tigard she was active at Tigard Friends Church where she taught Sunday school. She later was very active at the Living Enrichment Center in Wilsonville, and most recently with the Gleanings Foundation of Robbinsville, N.C. At times her spiritual journey took her far afield, including trips to Peru and India. She was also very involved in her local community. She served as PTA president at Lincoln High School in Portland, and was instrumental in turning their annual rummage sale into a major fund raiser for the school. She more recently was active with the West Slope Republican Women. Karen was an active business partner as well as life partner with Harold in their financial planning practice. In her 30 years in the financial services sector, she achieved many goals and received numerous company and industry awards, including qualifying for the Million Dollar Round Table for many years. Her primary focus in later years was as an investment advisor and planner. Her numerous clients appreciated her advice and especially her concern for their total well-being, both financial and spiritual. The essence of Karen was of an unconditionally loving person, who made everyone with whom she came in contact feel special. She was always able to find something to love in each and every person - everyone came away feeling better for having spent time with her. Perhaps a quote from Mother Teresa best sums up her nature: "We cannot do great things, only little things with great love." As she neared the end of her struggle, she asked everyone around her to pick one word by which to live the rest of their lives - for herself she chose "enthusiasm". Karen is survived by her husband, Harold; daughters, Danna Kittell and husband, Geoff, and Kara Murray and husband, Hamish; four grand-children, Lexie, Ian and Savannah Kittell, and Ian Murray; mother, Maxine Chatham; sister, Linda Lovett and husband, Keith; brothers, William Chatham and wife, Gwen; and Robert Chatham and wife, Jan; as well as six nieces and five nephews. A celebration of Karen's life will be held at Agnes Flanagan Chapel at Lewis and Clark College at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 27. Remembrances in her name can be made to MercyCorps, PO Box 2669, Portland, OR 97208-2669, or to the Marsha Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research, 1221 Madison St, Suite 1401, Seattle, WA 98104, or to the Gleanings Foundation, 167 Lodge Lane, Robbinsville, NC 28771. Published in The Oregonian on 5/6/2007.