KAREN KAY JOHNSON

Karen Kay Johnson, age 64, resident of rural Fort Scott, Kan., died Sunday, March 20, 2011, at her home, following a cancer illness.

She was born March 23, 1946, in Moran, Kan., the daughter of Clarence Earl Holeman and Daisy Bonita Wilson Holeman.

In her earlier years, she was active in 4-H and made the grand cchampion cherry pie in 1961.

She married Ancel "Andy" Johnson on June 7, 1964, in Bronson, Kan.

She worked for Dr. Robert O'Dell, for Klein Tools, for Dr. Charles Parsons, and for Lester Richards. She has worked the last seven years for Citizens Bank as a vice president.

Karen received her associate degree from Fort Scott Community College in 2005.

She was a member of the Helping Hand Club, advisory board member of the Bourbon County Soil Conservation District and co-chair of the Bourbon County United Way Board.

Karen helped organize the Bourbon County United Farmwives and served as United Farmwives of America communication coordinator. She was also a member of Eastern Star.

She accepted Christ and was baptized in the Bronson Baptist Church. She later served as pianist, organist and Sunday school teacher at the Bethel Community Church. She was a current member of the Community Christian Church. Karen enjoyed sewing, working with computers, and watching the grandkids' activities.

Survivors include her husband Andy of the home; one son, Jeff Johnson and wife Laura, Moran, Kan.; two daughters, Tammy Frank and husband Barry, Lawrence, Kan.; and Robin Schrack and husband Corey, Gardner, Kan.; her mother, Bonita Holeman, Bronson, Kan.; one brother, Scott Holeman, North Kansas City, Mo.; and one sister, Betty Rose, Uniontown, Kan. Also surviving are six grandsons, Nolan and Garrett Frank, Trent and Ty Johnson, and Corbin and Carson Schrack.

She was preceded in death by her father, Earl Holeman, one sister Linda Shelton, and father-in-law and mother-in-law Abner and Josephine Johnson.

Rev. Kevin Moyers will conduct funeral services for Karen Johnson at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 23, at the Community Christian Church. Burial will follow in the Mt. Orum Cemetery, Redfield, Kan.

The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday evening at the Community Christian Church.

In her honor, the family will be accepting new earrings, reflecting the zest Karen had for life, for Lobes of Love to be distributed to cancer patients.

Memorials are suggested to the Community Christian Church, the Sharing Bucket, or Lobes of Love and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, Kan., 66701.

Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at www.cheneywitt.com.