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Karen Lorraine Taylor, daughter of Kermit Williams and Helen Naomi Lamb Williams was born October 4, 1941 in Clarke County, Iowa and passed from this life Thursday, June 17, 2021 at Clarke County Hospital in Osceola, Iowa at 79 years of age.
Karen lived in several areas while growing up. She attended country school in Wayne Co. near Lineville, IA and also attended school in Mercer, MO, Springfield, MO, and graduated from high school in Warsaw, MO in 1959.
She was united in marriage to Irvin (Red) Taylor on August 5, 1960 in New Virginia, IA and three children, Kim, Karla, and Richard blessed this union. She was a housewife all her life but did work at the local hardware store, Reed’s I-35 station, and decorated cakes as well.
Karen accepted Christ as her savior as a young child, so Jesus was always an important part of her life. She was a member of Grace Baptist Church in New Virginia and was active there over the years. She helped with VBS, played the organ and piano, enjoyed singing in a trio, and served where needed. Later, she attended the Calvary Baptist Church in St. Charles.
Karen was active in the community, seeing the need for keeping it “alive”. She helped start the first Girl Scout Troop in New Virginia, served on many committees as well as in several organizations, and was a member of city council. Her favorite accomplishment was helping to get the Iowa State Fair Singers to New Virginia and heading the committee for the Iowa Sesquicentennial Celebration for Virginia Township. Karen also enjoyed working with Middle River Hospice of Winterset for many years.
Outside of being with her husband, the most enjoyable part of her life was being with and taking care of her grandchildren, who were the love of her life. Family get togethers were at the top of her list as well as being with and enjoying her friends. Some other notable things she enjoyed over the years were: hiking the Grand Canyon several times, a bike ride across Wisconsin with the Williams family, going on trips with Red, a bike ride with son, Richard, to Peterson, LA, having tea parties with all her grandchildren, taking her three girls to tea rooms, being with the gals in the Red Hat Society, going to breakfast with friends, being involved with Step One Wellness and all the friendships she made there as well as at the Hen House.
Those relatives who preceded Karen in death were her parents; grandparents; parents-in-law, Herbert and Laura Taylor; brother, Arnan Williams; sister, Evelyn Wooge; sister, Lyla Gene “Genie” Andrews; brother, Dale Williams; brother-in-law, Donald Wooge; sister-in-law, Mary Taylor; sister-in-law, Joyce “Sue” Taylor. son-in-law, William “Bill” Tripp; and grandson, Seth Mathes;
Karen leaves to cherish her memory; husband, Irvin “Red” Taylor of New Virginia, IA; daughter, Kimberly Dawn Mathes of Winterset, IA; daughter, Karla Sue Tripp of Osceola, Iowa; son, Richard Dale (Julie) Taylor of Earlham, IA; granddaughter, Amber (Ashley Hill) Mathes of Winterset, IA; granddaughter, Elyse (Seth Wilson) Mathes of Winterset, IA; grandson, Blaine (Cayla) Mathes of Wrightstown, NJ; grandson, Joshua (Christina Cook) Tripp of Murray, IA; granddaughter, Lindsay (Nathan) Stanford of Ankeny, IA; grandson, Jacob Taylor of Des Moines, IA; grandson, Garret (Alexa Losee) Taylor of Earlham, IA; great-grandson, Tyrese Collins; great-grandson, Cooper Tripp; great-grandson, Caden Mathes; great-granddaughter, Jordin Tripp; great-granddaughter, Rylie Mathes; brother-in-law, Tim Andrews of Walnut Grove, MO; sister-in-law, Faith (Williams) Heiks of Washington, IL; sister-in-law, Vivian (Jerry) Schmidt of Buffalo Lake, MN; brother-in-law, Herbert “Herb” (Marilyn) Taylor, Jr. of New Virginia, IA; brother-in-law, Robert “Bob” Taylor, Sr. of St. Marys, IA; as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Services were held at Kale Funeral Home, Monday June 21, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. with Mike Taylor, Richard Taylor and Pastor Joshua Hostetler officiating.
The family greeted friends from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, June 20, 2021 at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola.
A live stream of the service will be available at www.kalefuneralhome.com on Karen’s tribute wall beginning at 10:30 a.m., Monday.
Interment will be in the New Virginia Cemetery
Memorial contributions may be directed to her family for a fitting tribute to be decided on at a later date.
Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.kalefuneralhome.com