Karen R. Mobley

The Matriarch of Our Family Karen Ruth Mobley (Zimmerly/Zenor) was born to Charles Fletcher Zimmerly (Red) and Grace Doris Zimmerly (Gardener/Granny), on the 27th of July 1941 in Santa Anna, California. She is survived by her husband of 36 years, James Robert Mobley (Bob). She leaves behind five daughters Bernardean Rae Betancourt (Zenor), Jeraldean Gay McIlhargey (Zenor), Corrina Louise Vanoski (Zenor), Glenda Lee Rodriguez (Zenor) and Michelle Jacquelyne Mobley. Her three brothers Bob Hancock, Charles Zimmerly (Butch) and Chester Zimmerly (Chet), 13 grandchildren and 31 great grandchildren, and last but not least her three wiener dogs, Sissy, Missy and Lady. Karen regrettably departed from us on the sad day of the 20th of April 2018 due to medical complications she was having. Her Celebration of Life will take place in Marsing Idaho, at her and Bob’s home on the 12th of May at 2 p.m. We encourage family and friends to attend so that we may remember and celebrate the life of one of the most influential and respected woman that we all may have known. The point of contact for this event is her husband James Robert Mobley and he can be reached on his cell phone at (208) 571-8417, their home phone at (208) 896-4736 or you can contact any one of the daughters as well. Back to the Matriarch of our family, Karen Ruth Mobley. She grew up in Orange County California, where she developed her passion and love for animals (horses in particular) and honed her ability and immense appetite for fishing. She loved to fish in the nearby Ocean where she grew up, but dearly loved to fish in general. She developed her love for horses at a very young age and that love for horses would remain an integral part of her for the rest of her life. When she was a child, Karen would constantly be over at the nearby neighbors in order to ride their horses regardless that it may or may not have gotten her into trouble at home, where she may have forgotten about chores or other responsibilities in an effort to quench her thirst for her 4 legged friends love and attention. Karen’s father Red was an avid and skilled butcherer who passed his knowledge and skills on to his children, which Karen would eventually pass down to her family. Karen would also learn a great deal about canning of Jams, Jellies and various other type of foods as well as how to cook from her mother Grace. Karen eventually met a Marine named Raymond L. Zenor of whom she would fall in love with, marry and have four beautiful daughter’s with. Once married Karen and Raymond moved back to Idaho, where Raymond was from to start their life together. Together they had owned a couple of different homes that were small farms and spent their time raising children, horses and various other types of livestock. Karen and her family were very involved with their horses. They were vested in Rodeo, 4-H and of course local horse clubs such as the Snake River Stampeders. As stated before, Karen loved her horses, fishing and more importantly her family. Karen and her family eventually settled and stayed in Marsing, Idaho on a small farm where the girls were raised. Raymond and Karen had grown from their beginnings and had expanded their operation from small dairy farmers to having upwards of thirty head of horses and his and her trucks. Karen better known for her handle of "Early Times" and Raymond as "Airshift" were truck drivers amongst it all and of course Karen at the time was one of the first woman drivers in the state and of the time. Raymond and Karen were married for 22 years before their relationship endedcame to an end. Yet despite the split, a bond was forever forged and the strong family ties remained for the rest of her years. Then in 1982, while continuing to drive truck, Karen (Early Times) met who would become the love of her life, James Robert Mobley. They got married and became the best of friends, and continued on doing the things that Karen had always loved to do, hunting, fishing, gardening, canning, butchering and keeping that strong family bond. In their years together they had moved to other states to follow the roofing work that was available, since Bob by trade was a Roofer. Ultimately, they would end back up in Marsing where Karen could keep close ties with her family. She was THE GLUE that kept her family bonded together and out of respect for her it was rarely ever questioned. Karen developed a special family memory and event when her grandkids and great grandkids came into the picture. Which was held on a yearly basis. During the Christmas season she would have all her kids, grandkids and eventually great grandkids get together to pick out and paint their own ceramics to hang on their Christmas trees for the years to come. Now anyone that knew Karen knows that she was a NO NONSENSE person whom demanded respect, despised arrogance and deceitfulness, and if you were a violator of those things she would set you straight regardless if you were part of her family or not. That was just Karen for you. Karen continued to always make sure that the strong family bond was fluid and strong, and with that the expectation that Thanksgiving and Christmas were to be celebrated together as a whole family. Eventually, Easter was added to that list (she loved getting to watch all her grandkids and great grandkids have a day of hunting eggs) as well as any other event that could be used to keep her family together. Sadly the Matriarch of Our Family has passed away and will forever be missed, both in our hearts and our minds due in large to the memories and lessons she leaves us with. She was respected and loved by all that had the absolute pleasure of knowing this magnificent woman. Karen broke the mold when she was created, yet her legacy will live on forever with the lives that she had touched and amongst her family that she strived to keep together. We all love you always and forever and may you rest in peace Karen (aka Mom, Grandma and Sister) knowing that the shoes you left behind will never quite be filled the same way.