Karen L. Smith
Karen L. Smith, 62, of Kahoka passed away on October 28, 2017 at Hannibal Regional Hospital.
Born on November 30, 1954, she was the daughter of Kenneth and Ella Mae Cannon. She was independent and tough and her younger siblings- Brenda, Kirby and Mark were, upon their birth, immediately convinced of her authority. She was fierce before it was cool. Karen attended grade school in Alexandria, Mo and graduated Clark County High School in 1972.
On January 17, 1976 she married the love of her life, Randy Smith. She loved her husband dearly and together they made their quiet, happy marriage an example for everyone else. Randy, along with their daughters Kelsey, Lindsey and grandson Aiden were the center of her universe. She was very involved in the lives of her children and nieces and nephews, joining the Blackhawk PTO, CCR-1 Fine Arts Boosters and the local Girl Scouts.
In Kahoka, she was known for working at the Media and Hometown Journal newspapers. For almost 40 years, most of them before the age of computers, she took the news of our little town and framed it patiently and perfectly in a wax border. Most recently, she worked at Abel Transportation and the Sever Memorial Library. As a natural leader, she had the unique ability to see the gifts of others and instill in them the confidence to be better. Everywhere she worked or volunteered she enriched the lives of those she met with her wit and wisdom. What she lacked in stature she made up for in heart, and what she lacked in material things she made up for in her generosity.
As someone who cared about the fairness of the world, she got one of the most unfair deals of all: cancer. Many people, when faced with that diagnosis, would become bitter and angry. Asking “How” and “Why” such a terrible thing should happen to them. But not Karen. Instead, she worked to keep her mind active and positive by creating gifts for her friends and family. Embroidering and crocheting her pain, her fear and her love into every stitch. Karen has left everyone who knew her tangible reminders of how to spend your time when you don’t have time to spend.
She was quietly masterful in so many things: baking, floral design, crafting, gift-giving and parallel parking. She was a great gal to have in a fight, but an even better one to help you plan a raffle. She made every holiday and birthday special. Karen was at her happiest when she was serving and thinking of others. She found the value in every single day, especially when she could spend them with her family and her dog, Ozzie.
Karen was preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth and Ella Mae Cannon, her brother Mark; her grandparents James Thompson and Verna Humes and Wesley and Bernece Cannon; her in-laws, Wilbert and Janet Smith; uncles David “Bud” Fox, Leo Hallinan, Robert Cannon, Guy Cannon, Russell Steele and Robert Boley; aunts Charlotte Fox,Anna Cannon, and Lois Cannon; cousins Jeffrey Steele, Joseph and Isaac Jones; and great-nephew John Patrick Keyser.
She is survived by her husband Randy Smith of Kahoka; daughters Kelsey Smith Lesinski of St. Charles, MO, Lindsey (Tyler) Smith Roach of Morrisville, NC; grandson Aiden Lesinski of St. Charles, MO; sister Brenda (Roy) Brown of Kahoka, MO; brother Kirby (Lisa) Cannon of Marquette, MI; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Alan (Debbie) Smith of Luray, Connie Gutting of Reeds Spring, MO and Roger (Brenda) Smith of Harrison, AR; nieces and nephews Gabe (Jaime) Cooper of Ottumwa, IA, Karessa (Patrick) Cooper Keyser of Hannibal, MO, Joshua Ledbetter of Nashville, TN, Jason (Bambi) Brown, Justin Brown, Heather (Chauncey)Wilson and Michelle (David) Hess, all of Kahoka, MO; Trevor (Sherrie) Gutting of Reeds Spring, MO, Cody Smith of Kansas City, MO, Sean (Taylor) Smith of Wayland, MO, and Tyler Smith and Miranda Smith both of Harrison, AR; great-nieces and nephews Cash and Hunter Cooper, Pierce and Grace Keyser, Jade Pearsall, Brennan Fuller, Brytin, Brea and Brylyn Wilson, Drenda, Dereck, Delana and Drake Hess, Karah, Klayden and Kacen Brown, Luke and Macie Brown, and Wyatt and Kolton Gutting; aunts and uncles Rose Boley, Ruby Hallinan both of Keokuk, Joann Humes of Wayland; Keith and Joan Cannon of Kahoka, Rodney and Arlene Cannon of Punta Gorda, FL, Edwin and Delores Cannon of Kahoka, Barbara Steele of Keokuk, June Wiley of Keosauqua, Steve and Twila Wojcik of Hannibal and Carl and Mary Smith of Atlanta, IL; along with cherished cousins and many friends.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, November 1, 2017 at 11 a.m. at Wilson Funeral Home in Kahoka with Dr. David Castrodale, Mr. Jim Richardson and Mr. Kevin Fox officiating. Gabe Cooper served as read.
Special music was “Hallelujah”, “Amazing Grace”, and “Homeward Bound”.
Honorary Pallbearers
Karen’s cousins not named as pallbearers.
Pallbearers
Kevin Fox, Kent Fox, Robert Cannon, Steve Cannon, Pat Cannon, Steve Boley, Bernice Alberts and Anita Hood.
Burial was in the Sand Cemetery at St. Francisville with special music “Auld Lang Syne”.
Visitation was held at Wilson Funeral Home after 9 a.m. on Wednesday with family receiving friends from 10 a.m. until time of services.
Memorials were suggested to the Clark Co. Senior Center or the H. E. Sever Memorial Library.
On-line condolences may be expressed at www.wilsonfuneralservice.com.
“So Karen, have your Dad start the grill. Get Mark to bring in the extra chairs so can help your Mom set the tables. And one by one, as we arrive for dinner, you can let us know where we are supposed to sit.”
