Karen Julane Williams

Karen Julane Williams of Cuba, Missouri was born Saturday, November 15, 1941 at Lyons, Kansas to the union of Russell and Martha (nee: Anderson) Tappan. She left from this life, surrounded by family, on Friday, February 28, 2020 at her home in Cuba, Missouri at the age of 78 years.

Karen was united in marriage to Richard Williams on Saturday, September 1, 1962 at Lyons, Kansas. They are the proud parents of three children: Mark, Kevin and Susan.

Karen graduated for Wesley School of Nursing in Wichita, Kansas in 1962 as a registered nurse. She said that she went into nursing to help people and to take care of people. A profession she did very well, until her health began to decline, and she had to retire in 1998 after thirty-eight years of dedication to others.

In her younger years, Karen was a member of the Cuba Tennis League. She loved working in her gardens, both vegetables and flowers. She owned a business called "Paper Dolls" that hung wallpaper and painted. She also owned an ice cream shop called Red Bandana. She never missed a sporting event that her children or grandchildren were part of. She used her grandma's recipe to make Chicken and Noodles and she was famous for her Chicken Chow Mein.

The last several years, Karen has been fascinated with family history. Traveling to Newbury, Massachusetts to find the cemetery that her ancestors are buried in. Karen always said that she had family that came over on the Mayflower.

She was a devout fan of the Kansas Jayhawk Basketball for many years and the last few years she would always listen to St. Louis Cardinal Baseball on the radio. And before Karen's health changed, she was a member of the Tri-C Club, Bridge Club and the Cuba United Methodist Church. What she truly treasured most in life was spending time with her family and friends.

Karen was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mom, grandma, sister-in-law and friend of many. She will be truly missed by all who knew and loved her.

She is preceded in death by her parents Russell and Martha Tappan; one brother Arlen Tappan; grandson Jeremy Williams and other family and friends.

Those who are left to treasure her memory and to continue her legacy are her loving husband of fifty-seven years Richard Williams of the home; three children Mark and wife Tammy Williams of Rolla, Missouri, Kevin and wife Chris Williams of Cuba, Missouri, Susan and husband Kirk Buhr of Rolla, Missouri; nine grandchildren Morgan Wilson of Rolla, Ryan Williams of El Paso, Texas, Steven Wilson of Rolla, Taylor Williams of Cuba, Davis Buhr of Rolla, Aly Williams of Cuba, Alec Buhr of Rolla, Audrey Williams of Cuba and Isaac Buhr of Rolla; sister-in-law Dee Tappan of Topeka, Kansas; brother-in-law Jim Williams of Springfield, Missouri and a host of other relatives and many friends.

Visitation will be Tuesday, March 3, 2020 from 12:00 p.m. till 2:00 p.m. at the Mizell Funeral Home, 904 W Washington Street, Cuba, Missouri.

Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 3, 2020 at the Mizell Funeral Home with Pastor Paula Brookshier officiating. Special recorded music will be "Amazing Grace", "When We All Get to Heaven" and "I Can Only Imagine".

Interment and prayers will follow at the Kinder Cemetery, Cuba, Missouri.

Honored to serve as casket bearers are Mark Williams, Kevin Williams, Kirk Buhr, Davis Buhr, Alec Buhr and Isaac Buhr.

In lieu of flowers, donations maybe made to the National Kidney Foundation, Organ Donation & Transplantation Department, 30 East 33rd Street, New York, New York 10016 in Karen's memory.

The Mizell Funeral Home is honored to be serving Karen's family.

Service Details.

Visitation

When: Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Location: Mizell Funeral Home
Address: 904 W. Washington St. CUBA, MO 65453

Service

When: Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020 2:00pm
Location: Mizell Funeral Home
Address: 904 W. Washington St. CUBA, MO 65453

Interment

Location: Kinder Cemetery
Address: Rt. 66 CUBA, MO 65453