She Broke Barriers at the CHP — Now Eureka Remembers Karen Kay Locken

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Karen Kay Locken
October 20, 1949 – May 5, 2025

On May 5, 2025, Karen Kay Locken passed peacefully into the waiting arms of her mother and best friend, Irma. Her dear friend Susan was by her side.

Karen was born on October 20, 1949, in Louisiana. Her family later moved to Chicago, where she was raised. A few years after graduating from Arlington Heights High School, Karen moved to California with her then-husband, who was serving in the military.

On September 30, 1974, Karen became one of just 40 women accepted into the California Highway Patrol Academy as part of the groundbreaking Women Traffic Officer Project (WTOP), a pilot program designed to evaluate women’s capabilities as CHP officers. Karen and her fellow trainees helped pave the way for generations of women in law enforcement. She was sworn in as a CHP officer on January 16, 1975, and served with dedication for eight years.

Karen later continued her career with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control in Southern California. In 1986, she transferred to the ABC office in Eureka, where she remained until her retirement.

Karen embraced life fully. She loved road trips and cruises with her many friends and took great joy in entertaining at her beautiful, one-of-a-kind redwood home in the forest, affectionately known as “Chateau Relaxo.” When asked about her hobbies, she would simply say, “my house.” She was happiest sitting on her deck in the sunshine, watching the fog roll in and the stars appear, surrounded by the flowers and plants she so lovingly tended.

Karen leaves behind many cherished friends, including Cam Anderson; Diana and Michael Fouts-Guter; Bret and Lori Ajax; Rita and Jeff Smith; Jim and Linda Adams; Kevin and Janice Honzig; Jim Bisiar, Marlene and Earl Sharman and Lydia Engdol. She is also survived by her brother, Andy Locken (Leslie), and many close cousins in Toledo, Ohio. She remained closely connected to her friends and colleagues from ABC and the broader law enforcement community.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Irma Anderson; her dear friend, Virginia Anthony; and her beloved cat, Honeydew.

Karen was kind, generous, beautiful, intelligent, articulate, creative, and accomplished—and always full of life and fun. She was deeply loved and will be profoundly missed.

Last July a memorial service for Karen was held in Toledo, Ohio. After the memorial service, Karen was interred next to her beloved mother.