Karen Kay Johnson, age 77, of Liberal, Missouri passed away June 22, 2023, at her home.
Karen was born August 12, 1945 at Burge Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. She was adopted by Edgar and Lorene Beachler when she was only 15 days old. She attended and graduated from Hillcrest High School in Springfield, MO.
Karen was what some would call a city girl who fell head over heels for a farm boy. Karen married Ancil Johnson on January 5, 1963 at the age of 17. Karen quickly adapted to country life. She worked various jobs as a young adult. She was a homemaker as well as working alongside Ancil, maintaining their turkey and cattle farm. She was a member of the Christian Church of Liberal, where she served as a deaconess for many years. In August of 2000, Karen went to work for Bronaugh schools as a paraprofessional until suffering a stroke in 2010.
Karen loved her life on the farm, riding horses, motorcycles, fishing, and camping. She had a great love for animals, often taking in numerous pets in need of a home. Karen also enjoyed spending countless hours shopping. Her greatest joy, though, was raising her family.
Karen and Ancil had a daughter, Latricia, that died shortly after birth in 1965. Unable to have biological children, they adopted twin boys, Jason and Jeremie, at the age of 2, and later a 10-year-old girl, Christine. Ancil and Karen had many foster children through the years come into their home. They added three girls, Tiona, Marie, and Syndi, making their family complete. Their daughter Marie gave birth to a baby girl, Tori, on March 26, 1994, who joined the Johnson home. Tori and her Mema had a special bond. Karen was not the kind of mom to sit idly by watching her children enjoying the fun. She never missed an opportunity to swing, go down the slide at the park, or go sledding with her kids.
Survivors include two sons, Jason and wife Carolyn of Liberal, MO., and Jeremie and wife Debby of Pittsburg, Kansas; four daughters, Christine Davis of St. Louis, Missouri, Tiona and husband Jesus Rodriques of Ardmore, Oklahoma, Marie Morgan of Overland Park, Kansas, Sydni and husband Kyle Young of Lamar, MO; 15 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren, four nephews, and two nieces.
Karen was preceded in death by the love of her life, Ancil, and their infant daughter, Latricia Ann.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 27, 2023 at the Christian Church of Liberal, with burial to follow at Barton City Cemetery in Liberal, MO.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Monday, June 26, 2023 at Daniel Funeral Home in Lamar, MO.
