Karen Ruth Hoyt

Karen Ruth Hoyt of South Abington Twp. died Thursday afternoon. Her husband is Jay Hoyt.

Born in Scranton, she was the daughter of Ruth Hayden, Newton Twp., and the late Leroy Hayden. She was a 1979 graduate of Abington Heights High School and a 1981 graduate of Keystone Junior College, and she also attended the University of Scranton. She was employed with Lackawanna Valley Dermatological Associates while also serving as a librarian's aide in the Abington Heights School District.

She was the past president of the Parent-Teacher Association for many years and director of the 100-book challenge at Waverly Elementary School. She was active in many community activities, including the Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure and fundraising for the soccer, basketball and track teams at Abington Heights.

Karen took particular pride in her children's athletic accomplishments, including Jordan's 2010 Pennsylvania state championship in the 200-meter dash, her daughter Lauren's success as a point guard for the Lady Comets basketball team and her son Matt's accomplishments on the soccer field.

She was a former member of the Scranton and Glen Oak country clubs. She loved spending time with her family at the beach and traveling to the Outer Banks, Hawaii and Atlantis.

Also surviving are her three children, Jordan Lee Hoyt, Geoffrey Matthew Hoyt and Lauren Carol Hoyt, all at home; two brothers, James Hayden and wife, Dorothy, Dalton; and Ronald Hayden, Mount Cobb; mother-in-law, Carol C. Hoyt, and father-in-law, Justus C. Hoyt, Clarks Summit.

A memorial Mass will be held Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. in The Church of St. Gregory,330 N. Abington Road, Clarks Green. Friends may call Tuesday from 9 to 10:30 at the church. Everyone attending the funeral is asked to wear brightly colored clothing.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Research, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.