Karen Lee Morris

Jun 2, 1949 -

May 16, 2026

Karen Lee Morris of Nikiski, Alaska, passed away on May 16, 2026, at Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage, Alaska, due to complications of pancreatic cancer. She passed peacefully, surrounded by her family. Karen was born to John and Anna Christenson in Anchorage on June 2, 1949. She married her high school sweetheart, Curt Morris, in August 1966. They were married until his death in 2006. She graduated from West High School in Anchorage in 1967. She lived in Anchorage until 1971, then she moved with her husband and two children to Glenallen, Alaska, and lived there until 1977. They moved to Nikiski, where she resided until her death. She helped manage a small store and gas station in Glenallen. She helped operate M & M Supermarkets Inc. with her husband from 1977 to 1983. She worked at the Nikiski Post Office, National Bank of Alaska, Unocal Fertilizer plant in Nikiski and then at M & M Market in 1996, after she and her husband took the business back in 1993. After her daughter and son-in-law bought the business in 2003, she continued to work there part-time until her death. She was the historian for the Kenai Igloo of The Pioneers of Alaska. She enjoyed backcountry horseback riding with her husband in Glenallen. She was an avid bowler in her younger days in Anchorage at Center Bowl, and later bowled in a league in Kenai. Every summer for many years she loved going to the family cabin at Paxon Lake that her father built in the 1950s. She enjoyed cross-country skiing and then snowshoeing on Island Lake with her daughter. She enjoyed going on walks with her dogs, her daughter and her daughter's dogs. She was an avid golfer for many years at the Kenai Golf Course. She loved tending to her yard at her home on Island Lake.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Gary; parents, John and Anna Christenson; and her husband, Curt Morris, of 39 years. She is survived by her son, Rick Morris of Emeryville, Calif.; daughter, Pam Martinez and son-in-law Felix Martinez of Nikiski; granddaughter Celina Martinez; and grandson, Alex Martinez of Nikiski; sister, Agnes Wilson and husband Jim of Palmer, Alaska; brother, Curt Christenson of Palmer; brother, Russell Christenson and wife Yvonne of Anchorage; as well as many cousins, nephews and nieces.

A small celebration of life will be held later in summer 2026. Donations to the local cancer organization, W.o.W., Way Out Women, would be appreciated due to their generosity during Karen's cancer treatments.