Karen was born in Niagara Falls, Ontario. She was the second child of Ralph and Dorothy Brooks. She excelled in school and graduated at the age of 17.  Karen pursued a Sociology degree at Roberts Wesleyan College and graduated at the age of 21.  

During college she became pen pals with Edward (Tracy) Ohare. Tracy was an inmate at the California Mens Colony SLO. After graduation, Karen moved to California and married Tracy.  When he was released from prison, Karen and Tracy had a son - Jason.  The two divorced a few years later and Karen and her brother Peter moved into a house in Yorba Linda. 

By day Karen worked as an Administrative Assistant at CHOC (Children's Hospital of Orange County) and by night she moonlighted as a professional typist. During that time, Karen also pursued her Masters Degree in Social Work and received her MFCC from Cal State Fullerton in 1984. Karen became a Social Worker for the County of Orange and quickly rose through the ranks to become an Administrator with Orange County Social Services.  Karen became a single mom in 1981 and Jason was her "Little Man." 

In 1985, Karen met Dwight Bryan "Ike" Winters. Ike was a company clerk in the National Guard.  Karen and Ike were married in 1986.  Ike brought his three daughters out to California from Iowa and the six of them became a blended family living in Orange, California. Karen became a single mom in 1981 and Jason was her "Little Man."