Karen Kay Etter
( May 25, 1940 – January 18, 2018 )
Funeral service will be 10:00am, Saturday, January 27, 2018 at Vansant-Mills Funeral Chapel, Clinton. Visitation will be 6:00-8:00pm, Friday, January 26 also at Vansant-Mills Funeral Chapel. Interment will follow in Maplewood Cemetery, Brownington. Memorial contributions may be made to Heartland Hospice and can be left in care of funeral home. Condolences and fond memories can be left online at www.vansant-millsfuneralhome.com.
Karen was born in Deepwater, Missouri to Roy Wood and Viola (Carver) on May 25, 1940. She married James O. Houk on September 30, 1956 and to this union 8 children were born. While her children were young she was a dedicated mother and housewife. She began her working career waitressing and eventually went to business school. She worked for the Construction Laborers Union for which she later retired. Karen was blessed to spend her retired years with her best friend and niece Evelyn McKellips. Together they enjoyed cooking, baking, sewing, crocheting, quilting, and crafts of all types. They spent countless hours with their beloved children and grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents, and her siblings Jack Wood (Doris Harvey), Jewell Wood Miller (Boyce), Marvin Wood (Georgette Boxley), Kenneth E. Wood, Doris Wood Witham, Anna Mae Wood Weaver (Charles “Bud”), and Violet Marie Wood; one son, Kenneth B. Houk; a granddaughter, Emily Kay Cone; and a great grandson, Joseph B. Cook.
She is survived by her children James D. Houk (Kathy), Springhill, TN., Janet K. Crouch (Mark), Steven R. Houk, Michael L. Houk (Cindy) all of Clinton, MO., Kaylene M. Cone (Mark), Lori B. Houk of Osceola, MO., and Larry D. Houk (Leila) of Montrose, MO.; 23 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren; as well as a number of nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home, Clinton, Missouri.