Karen Philpot, 77

Karen Philpot, 77, of Gilmanton, passed away on Sept. 6, 2026, following complications from multiple sclerosis.

Born Karen Conant Harris on May 16, 1949, in Warrenton, Virginia, she was the beloved only daughter of Chesley and Natalie Harris. Karen began building her creative talents at an early age — directing pets and toys in elaborate "make-believes" and playing imaginative games with her cousins in the Virginia countryside. She attended St. Margaret’s School in Tappahannock, Virginia, where she played field hockey, joined the yearbook, and made many friends with her ready smile and tack-sharp wit.

Tragically, Karen’s mother passed away in December 1966, and her father just five years later. Losing both parents so young shaped Karen’s life and fueled her determination to one day have a large, vibrant family of her own.

After graduating high school in 1967, Karen took courses in mathematics, art, and history at several southern universities before meeting and falling in love with William Philpot Jr. of Edison, New Jersey. The couple married on Sept. 13, 1975, and, after moving to New Hampshire, they began building a small farm and, a few years later, that large family Karen had always wanted. Karen often said that her happiest years were the ones she spent raising her four young children. She poured her heart into creating a welcoming, beautiful home where her needlework hung on the walls and her favorite movies ran on repeat until the VHS tapes broke.

Despite battling a chronic neurological disease for decades, Karen’s humor and zest was irrepressible. She traveled to England, visited her children on their college campuses and home cities, and hosted gatherings with aplomb. Indeed, Karen’s warmth colored all facets of her life. She was a gifted decorator, an amazing cook, and an animal lover. She was that rare person who knew how to fold fitted sheets, carve radishes into rosettes, sketch mathematically precise floor plans, and create last-minute meals for a crowd.

Those closest to Karen know she lived by an ethical code centered on “old fashion” kindness: always call when it came to matters of the heart; dress-up for performances and museums; send handwritten notes for the milestone moments. As Karen’s favorite actress, Katherine Hepburn, once said, “Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get — only what you are expecting to give — which is everything.”

Karen’s family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the compassionate and dedicated caregivers, nurses, doctors, and many others who’ve supported her (and them) over the past several years.

Karen is survived by her husband, William Philpot; her four children, Natalie, Chelsey (Levi Kafka), Saeger (Chris Fischer), and Harris; her many grandchildren; and her ragtag herd of beloved dogs.

Karen's family will host a celebration of life for close friends and family in fall 2026.