Karen Hudspeth's Obituary
Karen Sue Hudspeth was born on March 17, 1944 to Murl and Melva Tanner in Ralston, Oklahoma. She passed away peacefully at her home on May 21, 2023 at the age of 79.
After attending grade school in Ralston, OK and graduating from Pawnee High School in 1962, Karen headed to California in 1964 with good friend Sammye Miksell. In California, she worked at a bank and attempted to spot movie stars on the weekends. She returned to Tulsa and earned an associate degree from the University of Tulsa in 1965. Karen met her best friend, Jim Hudspeth in Tulsa 1965 and they were married on June 25, 1966. Throughout their 57 years of marriage, Jim and Karen would serve as a consistent example of faithfulness and service to others. They have loved one another deeply.
Karen, or “Ms. Karen,” as she was called by the 52 years of preschoolers she taught at church, loved traveling! She and Jim enjoyed designing and taking trips to Colorado, Canada, and Alaska to “beat the Oklahoma heat” as she often said. But more than travelling, she loved supporting and celebrating her family and grandkids. You could often find Karen cheering on Jim and the Gracemont softball team; attending Eric’s basketball, soccer and baseball games; enjoying Angie’s gymnastics, piano, choir and colorguard performances; being present at her grandkids’ countless dance, ballet, band, winter guard, and choir performances and soccer and football games. She would do anything for her grandkids, even ride the largest waterslide at Great Wolf Lodge despite her dislike of water activities.
When she was not supporting the family or helping her customers and friends at First National Bank in Broken Arrow, where she worked for 40 years, you could find Karen making her famous brisket and potato casserole and chocolate layer dessert, or watching the Cooking Network, Hallmark Channel, and game shows “to keep her memory sharp.” From a young age, Karen was a night owl. She was once caught playing with her dolls at 1:00 AM. She was a true servant leader who was reliable, hard-working, supportive, and always put others first. She sought to honor God with her life and bring joy to those around her. She was a loving wife, devoted mother, doting grandmother, and dear friend to all who knew her.
Karen is survived by husband, Jim, son, Eric, daughter, Angie and husband Kyle Jernigan; Grandchildren, Emma and Ellee Boyle, Elaina Hudspeth, and Kylee and David Jernigan; sister-in-law Ann Moore and family, Brother, David Tanner and wife Marilyn and their family; sister-in-law, Randi Tanner and family. Karen was proceeded in death by her parents Murl and Melva Tanner, and brothers Jimmy, Bobby, and Richard, brother-in-law Ron Hudspeth, and daughter-in-law Tammela Hudspeth.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at Floral Haven Funeral Home from 5-7 PM
Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 25, 2023 at First Baptist Church Broken Arrow 100 W Albany St, Broken Arrow, OK 74012 at 11:00 AM
Interment to follow at Floral Haven Memorial Gardens - Veterans Fields of Honor Phase III at 12:30 PM
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