KAREN KAY JOHNSON

LIBERAL- Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Christian Church of Liberal for Karen Kay Johnson, 77, Liberal, who died Thursday, June 22, 2023, at her home. Burial will follow at Barton City Cemetery in Liberal.

A visitation will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at Daniel Funeral Home in Lamar.

Contributions are suggested and made payable to the Christian Church of Liberal, in care of the funeral home.

Condolences may be shared at www.dfhlamar.com.

Survivors include two sons, Jason and wife Carolyn, Liberal and Jeremie and wife Debby, Pittsburg, Kan.; four daughters, Christine Davis, St. Louis, Tiona Rodriques and husband Jesus, Ardmore, Okla., Marie Morgan, Overland Park, Kan. and Sydni Young and husband Kyle, Lamar; 15 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren, four nephews and two nieces.

She was preceded in death by the love of her life, Ancil and their infant daughter, Latricia Ann.

Mrs. Johnson was born Aug. 12, 1945, at Burge Hospital in Springfield. 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.

Mrs. Johnson was what some would call a city girl who fell head over heals for a farm boy. She married Ancil Johnson on January 5, 1963 at the age of 17. She quickly adapted to country life. She worked various jobs as a young adult. She was a homemaker as well as working alongside her husband, 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, she went to work for Bronaugh schools as a para professional until suffering a stroke in 2010.

Mrs. Johnson 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. She also enjoyed spending countless hours shopping. Her greatest joy though, was raising her family.

Mrs. Johnson and husband 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 two and later a 10 year old girl, Christine. The couple 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. Mrs. Johnson was not the kind of mom to set 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.