She was 77 years old.
Born to Susan Young Newcomb (McNeil) and Willard F. McNeil in Newton, Massachusetts, on June 6, 1941. She was the second of three children.
She graduated from high school in Wheaton, Illinois in 1958. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois. She then graduated from the University of Illinois with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. After college she worked approximately a year in a private veterinary practice in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. She then practiced in a veterinary clinic for one year in Princeton, Illinois.
Karen married Joel K. Wesson and had four children, three of whom survive her: Wendy Y. Green of Oklahoma City, Jennifer Post of Canada, and Jeffrey K. Wesson of Oklahoma City. She was preceded in death by her youngest son, Joshua S. Wesson of the Dominican Republic.
Karen was successful as a Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1990 to 2001. She served in the Gulf War for one year and received many honors for her service.
She worked for the United States Department of Agriculture for 40 years, in Illinois, Texas, Oklahoma and Washington D.C. She retired in September of 2009.
Karen was preceded in death by her parents and brother, David McNeil. In addition to her three children, her survivors include her twin brother, Bruce McNeil and fifteen grandchildren. Also surviving her are Bruce Mundy and Sybil Mundy (siblings from Willard and Doris McNeil).
