Karen Ruth Haupt Briggs, age 72, of Erie, was lovingly surrounded by her family when she passed away Friday, November 7, 2014. She was born in Erie on July 23, 1942, daughter of the late Robert T. and Mary Jane Thompson Haupt.

Karen was an active member of The First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, serving as Deacon, Elder, and Trustee. She was a 1960 graduate of Academy High School and used the skills she learned at the Katharine Gibbs Secretarial School in her work at Erie Insurance and General Electric, prior to starting her family. She was a member of the Florence Crittenton Auxiliary; P.E.O. Chapter X; Koinonia of Erie County; and the Red Hatters. Karen enjoyed cooking, gardening, playing cards and games, golfing, dancing with Catherine Little's Glamourettes, and traveling with her family and friends. Karen was a woman of grace, beauty, and strength. She extended the love of her family by foster-parenting 12 babies over a 14 year period.

Karen is lovingly survived by her husband of 49 years, David Edwin Briggs; two daughters, Deborah Lynn Briggs Loney (Michael) and Diane Elizabeth Briggs Sutton (Ron); one sister, Shirley Ann Haupt DeCarolis; one brother, Theodore John Haupt (Barbara); three grandchildren, Megan Catherine, Daniele Patrice, and Michael Briggs Loney; and many nieces and nephews.

Friends will be received for a celebration of Karen's life at The First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant Parlor on Friday from 3 to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral at 1:00 p.m. conducted by Rev. Timm High. Interment, Laurel Hill Cemetery. Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, 250 West 7th St., Erie, PA 16501, Great Lakes Hospice, 1700 Peach St., Ste. 244, Erie, PA 16501, or P.E.O. International (please list in memo line Helen McDougle Scholarship Fund) and may be mailed to the funeral home. Dusckas Funeral Home, Inc., 2607 Buffalo Rd., is in charge of the arrangements. To send condolences, visit www.dusckasfuneralhome.com.