Karen Blake Hamilton (a/k/a/ Karen Marie Hamilton), 68, of Fairmont, passed away Thursday, July 4, 2024. She was born in Huntington, WV, the daughter of the late Marvin Richard Blake and Carmen Carte Blake.

Karen graduated from Fairland High School in Proctorville, Ohio.  She then attended Fairmont State College and received her degree in Elementary Education in 1980. Karen worked as an Aerobics Instructor at the Country Club Spa, was a Magistrate Court Assistant for Magistrate Frank Jones and later, Junior Slaughter.  She worked in the Marion County Prosecuting Attorney's office.  Karen was instrumental in starting and serving as a Victim Advocate of Marion County and was also a CASA volunteer and member of P.E.O.  She enjoyed snow skiing and tennis and was a voracious reader.

On August 28, 1982, she married Neal Jay Hamilton of Fairmont.   She retired from employment in 1995 to take care of her daughter and provide taxi, chaperone, and "Dance Mom" services for her daughter and friends. She supervised constant weekly sleepovers and considered a second mom to several of her daughter's friends.  Karen will always be remembered as a caring and devoted wife and mother, a lover and protector of animals, and a passionate advocate for the victims of crime.  She was the most caring and spiritual individual her family ever knew.

Karen is survived by her husband, local attorney Neal Jay Hamilton of Fairmont; their only daughter Taylor Marie Hamilton (Matthew) Waronicki of Jupiter, FL; half-brothers Matthew Blake (partner Beverly Edwards) of Lexington, KY, and William (Allison) Blazer, Jr. of Virginia Beach, VA; mother-in-law Elizabeth Ann "Betty" Hamilton of Beaufort, SC; in-laws Bruce M. (Dot) Hamilton of Colfax, R. Kyle (Joyce) Hamilton of Fairmont, Glenna (Daryl) Ferguson of Beaufort, S.C.;  many nephews, nieces, and their spouses and children: Katy (Christian) Melgard of Rockville, VA, Bonnie (Grayson) Traylor of Richmond, VA, Matthew (Tracey) Johnson of Las Vegas, NV, Kevin (Amanda) Hamilton of Fairmont, Keith (Raffie) Hamilton of Sarasota, FL, Grant (Sarah) Hamilton of Brunswick, MD, Lauren Hamilton of Eugene, OR, Kendra (A.J.) Goldberg of Krakow, Poland.

She was preceded in death by her parents Marvin Richard Blake and Carmen Carte Blake.

Pursuant to Karen's wishes, there will be no memorial service, but rather a private party with close family and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate in memory of Karen to either the Marion County Humane Society or Pet Helpers, Inc. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.domicofh.com.