Karyn A English's Obituary
Karyn Ann English (nee Smith) was born February 1, 1942, in New Orleans, Louisiana to parents Lucy Mae Soldani Smith and Boyd William Smith. She was known to family members affectionately as Kaki (and later Kaku to her granddaughter).
Throughout her professional career, she contributed to some of humanity’s greatest achievements, like the Saturn V and the Space Shuttle program. She was the first female Test Inspector, and later Quality Engineer, for the SSME (Space Shuttle Main Engine) at Stennis Space Center. She was presented with the prestigious Silver Snoopy award by the crew of the first Space Shuttle flight, John Young and Robert Crippen, in honor of her contributions to safety in the Space Program. And she did all this as a single mother.
She was also known for her sense of fashion and her bold outlook on life.
She passed on Christmas Day, 2022, at the age of 80.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her older sister Nona Wynne Smith, and many pets (she was an enthusiastic cat lover). Her beloved 19-year-old Pomeranian, Bear, passed away nine days after she did.
She is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 30 years, Kenneth Randall; her only child, Kristin English, and her only grandchild, Victoria Monforte.
She was an inspiration and a trailblazer. We will miss her mischievous sense of humor and her infectious laugh. We are grateful for everything she taught us and will work in her memory to make the world a better place.
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