In Memory

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Karen Virginia Kinnison was born in San Antonio, Texas in 1940.  Her father was a career Army officer and her family lived in many places including the Philippines and Germany.  She moved to Salado after her father retired here in 1966. She loved Salado. At one time Karen worked for accounting firms in Washington, D.C. and Austin, TX, as well as the Killeen Daily Herald. She married and had two children she raised in Salado, Pattie and Andrew Voelter. While living in Salado, she became interested in preserving Salado Creek and joined a group of concerned citizens who monitored the creek for pollutants. 

Karen was a passionate conservationist and member of the Sierra Club.  She helped test the creek several times a week for over 20 years and results were routinely reported to the Village Voice for publication.  She was dedicated to anything natural…the native plants, the Texas streams, historic sites and conservation of water.

When the creek group disbanded, she continued to monitor the Creek and fight to preserve the natural resources of Salado. She was a member of the Tonkawa Native Plant Society and practiced natural landscaping. Karen loved camping and outdoors activities. She also participated in archaeology digs in Israel and at the Gault site. She loved searching for fossils and arrowheads.  And she loved Texas.  Her daughter has donated to Save Salado Creek in her memory.