Karen Sue Powell, 81, of Columbia, Missouri, passed away on November 8, 2024, in Odessa, Missouri, after an honorable battle with pancreatic cancer.
She was born in Kansas City, Missouri, to Leonard and Sharlen Howe on June 28, 1943, one day after her twin sister Sharon was born in Warsaw, Missouri.
Karen graduated from Warsaw High School in 1961. In 1962, she studied for a year at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri, before starting her family.
In her professional life she profited from her love of sewing by opening her own custom drapery shop in Marshall, Missouri. She later worked as an administrative assistant for Marshall Public Schools. After moving to Columbia, Karen became a valued member of the University of Missouri community where she worked for 25 years in various departments as a conference coordinator and later as an administrative assistant.
She retired in 2010 at age 66 from the Bids and Contracts Office of the University Hospital which then allowed her to spend more time with her family, friends, and hobbies. Karen enjoyed sewing; playing piano; traveling with close friends and family; studying genealogy, locating lost ancestors, honoring and decorating cemeteries; and reading novels.
Karen cherished her grandchildren and was always their most ardent supporter. She loved living close to her grandchildren Myles, Lexi, and Chloe. Karen would drive to Odessa for every play, concert, award ceremony, graduation, and event that her granddaughters Rachel and Heather had. Getting to spend time with her great-grandson and celebrating four generations together brought her immense joy.
Her family was the light of her life. She is survived by her daughter Kanetra Kopp of Odessa, Missouri, and husband Dennis and their daughters Rachel Selle and Heather Kopp; Rachel's husband Mario Selle and son Oliver; son Kirk Powell of Columbia, Missouri, and wife Vicki and their children Myles Powell, Alexis Powell, and Chloe Bui; Chloe's husband Angel Bui and daughter Lailah; sister Sharon Karr of Warsaw, Missouri; brother Gary Howe of Kansas City, Missouri, and wife Patty; cousin Daniel Howe of Lee's Summit, Missouri; and many more cousins, nephews, and nieces. Karen was preceded in death by her parents and brother-in-law Ralph Karr.
A Celebration of Life will be held on June 28, 2025, in Warsaw, Missouri, where friends and family will gather to honor Karen's memory and legacy. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to PanCAN - the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
Karen's life was a testament to the power of loving deeply and living fully. Her memory will be cherished and kept alive in the hearts of all those she loved who loved her in return.
