Karen Younts Schubert

Karen Younts Schubert, 67, of Abilene, Texas, passed away on Wednesday, October 7, 2015. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, October 10, 2015 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene. Rev. Tommy Needham of Amarillo will preside. Karen Ann Younts was born in Downers Grove, Illinois, to Bob and Jeanette Younts on May 25, 1948. She went to Downers Grove High School and graduated in 1966. She then attended the National College of Education in Evanston, Illinois. She married Jeffrey Schubert on March 22, 1969 in Downers Grove, Illinois. She was a military wife and mother and lived in California, Louisiana, Nebraska, and Michigan, before the Air Force sent them to Dyess AFB in Abilene, Texas. After her divorce in 1989, Karen raised two daughters on her own, and completed her bachelors of education at McMurry University in Abilene, Texas in 1991. She then began a long, successful career as a 3rd grade teacher at Dyess Elementary in Abilene. Karen loved the outdoors and spent many years raising Arabian horses. She also was involved with animal rescue and had adopted several springer spaniels. She was a passionate quilter and taught many classes related to sewing. She spent many hours making quilts for wounded veterans through the Quilts of Valor organization. As a teacher, Karen was deeply dedicated to her students. All 25 years of her teaching career were spent teaching third grade at Dyess Elementary. She was honored as Abilene ISD Teacher of the Year, and received many professional accolades throughout her career. Karen was preceded in death by her father, George Robert Younts, and her mother, Jeanette Younts Diesing. Karen is survived by her sister, Linda Younts Bolas of Naperville, Illinois; two daughters, Erin Schubert Needham of McKinney, Texas and Megan Schubert Leese of Brooklyn, New York; and four grandchildren: Kate Elizabeth Needham, Garrett Anderson Needham, Harrison Robert Frederick Leese, and Elliot Simon Jeffrey Leese. The family thanks the many members of the Abilene community for their support and love following this unexpected event. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Rescue the Animals (www.rescuetheanimals.org).