Karen Ward's Obituary
Karen Sue Ward, daughter of Harry Frank and Kittie Mae Cunningham Baker, was born March 4, 1956, in Kansas City, Kansas. She departed this life Tuesday, December 13, 2011, in St. John?s Hospital, in Springfield, Missouri, at the age of fifty-five years, nine months, and nine days. On June 2, 1973, she was united in marriage to Vic Wayne Ward, and to this union one daughter and one son were born. Her father preceded her in death. Karen is survived by her loving husband of thirty-eight years, Wayne, of the home; a daughter, Jennifer Dearborn, and her husband, Fred, of Conway, Missouri; a son, Christopher Ward, and his wife, Lacey, of Conway, Missouri; four grandchildren, Shelby, Lauren, Ajsia, and Sidney; her mother, Kittie Baker, of Lebanon, Missouri; a brother, Norman Baker, and his wife, Janet, of Pryor, Oklahoma; three sisters, Louise Atwood, and her husband, Bill, Stella Grissom, all of Lebanon, Missouri, and Lois Hallmark, of Kansas City, Kansas; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and friends. She was born and raised in the Kansas City, Kansas area and graduated from high school there. After she and Wayne were married, they continued to live in the Kansas City area, until moving to Lebanon, Missouri in 1979. During these years, Karen was a devoted homemaker to her husband and family. About ten years ago, Karen decided to attend a school of cosmetology and earned her licensed while in her mid forties. She began working as a beautician at Christian Health Care South in Lebanon, a position that she considered like a ministry to the patients. Karen had professed her faith in Christ and was a member of Morgan Baptist Church. She had been attending the Lebanon Family Church. In her spare time she enjoyed going to craft shows and watching Professional Bull Riding. She and Wayne would make yearly trips to the West to spend time in the mountains and to see the bull riding competitions. She loved her family dearly and was very supportive of her husband, children and grandchildren. Karen was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and aunt, and was a kind and caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate her life and know that her family and friends will cherish the wonderful memories she created for them.
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