Karen Means received her angel’s wings and set off on her flight, safe into the arms of God. Those whom have gone before her were waiting with anticipation for her arrival as she made her way into Heaven.
Karen Gidley Means went home to be with our Lord on February 9, 2019. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 13, 2019, at First Baptist Church of Attalla. The family will receive visitors before the service from 10:30 – 1:00, with funeral service directly after. The Reverend Earl Mitchell will officiate. Burial will be held at Oak Hill Cemetery in Attalla with a private family ceremony. Morgan Funeral Home is directing.
Karen grew up in Attalla, where she was a lifelong resident. She was a graduate of Etowah High School Class of 1967. Karen was a devoted wife to her Husband, Larry Means, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. Karen will be remembered by her loving husband and all who knew her for being a kind, gentle, and loving person. She worked many summers as a teenager for the Etowah County Board of Education, and then worked as the church secretary for First Baptist Church Attalla. She then went on to work 24 years for the Attalla City Board of Education as the administrative assistant to the Superintendent, serving under the administrations of the late Billy Rains and Danny Golden.
If you knew Karen, you knew her love for gardening. She could be spotted working in her yard from daylight to dark on many occasions. She loved her family dearly and cherished every moment she spent with them. Her grandchildren were her world. Karen was a faithful Christian and member of First Baptist Attalla. She loved serving our Lord, and taught Sunday school in the children’s department for many years, teaching and leading by example. She touched the lives of many children over the years, as well as everyone she met. The love for her Church and church family shined through all that she did in her 49 years as a member. Many viewed her as an angel on Earth. Karen was the epitome of a true, Southern Christian Lady.
Karen is preceded in death by her parents, James J. and Mary Smith Gidley, and second mother Bernice Fricks Gidley, along with cherished friends Pug Mabrey, Susan Stanfield, and Ann Colegrove.
She is survived by her loving husband of 50 years, Larry Means, Attalla; children Brent (Jenny) Means, Gadsden; Tanya (Michael) MacMillan, Alabaster; grandchildren Seth and Lauren MacMillan and Romie and Ellis Means; sister Judy (Terry) Cleghorn, Cullman; brother Mark (Tammy) Gidley, Rainbow City; sister in law Carol (Bob) McIntyre, Birmingham; brother in law Mike (Tammy)Means, Birmingham; Maurice (Sarah) Fricks, Deborah (Ed) White, Donna (Kevin) Cox; and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews.
The Means family would like to give our deepest thanks to all the friends that sent cards and food, visited, and especially prayed for Karen and our family during this most difficult time in our lives. A special thank you to Tammy Gidley, Heather Gidley Gramling, Stacey Middleton, Holly Troup, Pat and Stanley Holcomb, Theresa Turner, Debbie Steele, Elaine and Larry Thompson, and Joana Thompson for being special friends and family that helped the Means family during this journey. A very special thank you to Dr. Debora Reiland, Dr. Jason Junkins, and Michael Gross, CRNP. Also a very, very special thank you to Alex James, RN, with Kindred Home Health; and Tyler Pence, RN, Candace Wagnon, RN, and the entire team with Amedisis Hospice. Karen received the best, personalized and compassionate care imaginable. And last, but certainly not least, the most special thanks of all to Margie Hamby. God sent us the perfect person to keep guard over our precious “Nanna”, and she is now family to us. We love you Margie, and appreciate you more than you will ever know. We couldn’t have navigated this journey without you.
Pall Bearers will be Scottie Parrish, Jason Nicholson, Logan Steele, Chris Jones, Taylor Gidley, Juston Mabrey, Mitch Mabrey, and Ronnie Battles.
Honorary Pall Bearers are M.B. McCartney, Michael McCartney, Tim McCartney, Ralph Stanfield, Jerry Don Mabrey, Sherman Guyton, Frankie Davis, Craig Ford, John Moore, Harry McClendon, Ronnie Reed, Don Oliver, Mitchell Troup, Wayne Findley, Tom Coker, Jim Pruett, Steve Moore, Larry Cofield, Tony Thomas, and Ralph Burke.
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