Karen Crow Fortner

The family will receive friends from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 11, 2021 at Collier Butler Funeral Home with service following at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel. Rev. Ray Pickard and Rev. Bruce Word officiating. Burial will follow at Williams-Southside Memorial Park.

Karen was a 1984 graduate of Gadsden High School. She later graduated from Gadsden Business College and worked 10 years as an underwriter at Life Insurance of Alabama before starting a 15 year career at Crown Motors where she was Finance Manager. She later worked for Southern Cardiovascular Associates and Northwestern Mutual Insurance.

She was a faithful church member at Valley Baptist Church and North Glencoe Baptist church where she allowed the lord to use her in many capacities from Sunday school teacher to women’s minister, but her love was for praise and worship and serving through music. She used her talents to play the organ at Valley Baptist for many years but singing was her passion. She blessed so many with her beautiful voice and had an exceptional talent for harmonizing, always blending beautifully with any group who had the privilege to sing with her.

Karen was a Proverbs 31 woman and a faithful prayer warrior. It has often been said that she had a direct prayer line. She would not hesitate to stop everything to comfort, console and pray with anyone at any time. If she knew you then she was praying for you and any situation you were facing. Many people experienced change in their lives due to her mentorship, friendship, and faithful prayers.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 20 years, Hoyt Fortner; mother Nadine Hyatt Crow; Grandparents Dennis and Ferrell Hyatt, James and Minnie Crow, beloved aunts, uncles, cousins and lifelong friend Regina Murray.

Survivors left behind to cherish her memories and eternal impact include her father Edward Crow, Aunts Jo Smith, Ann Hyatt, and Mary Jo Hyatt, Cousins: Angela Hyatt, Charlotte Hyatt, Sherry Hyatt, Tim Hyatt , Travis Crow, Susanne Sparrowk, Mitch Henson, Donnie Smith, Daniel Smith, Barbara Snow, Cynthia Mosley, Sheila Kime, Michael Hyatt, Jennifer Butts, James Hyatt, Deborah Hyatt; Donya Nations, Wanda Daniels, Huey Woodard, and Guy Woodard, godson Joshua Thornton; chosen children, Logan Hoge, Haley Reed, Hollee Murphy, Cole, Carly and Cason Patterson, Carson Reed, Madelyn and Mary Elizabeth Hyatt; lifelong friends Tammi Green, Donna Nail, Charlie Murray, Jennifer and Wesley Patterson, Traci and Alan Howard, Eunice Loveless, Cindy Hill Davis, Susie Weems, Leah and Jonathon Loyd, and so many other friendships that it would be impossible to list them all.

Pallbearers will be Logan Hoge, Joshua Thornton, Travis Crow, Charlie Murray, Cole Patterson, Mitch Henson, Donnie Smith, and Jonathon Loyd.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to everyone who has joined in prayer for Karen, the Palliative Care Unit at UAB, the physicians and residents of The UAB Liver Center, Dr.David Ennis, Dr. John Craver of the Department of Internal Medicine at UAB , and Dr. Darryl Prime for his care, compassion and friendship.

Karen leaves a legacy of faithfulness, servanthood, compassion and kindness to others. Her final act of kindness was to donate her corneas to restore the vision of someone in need. In her honor perform a random act of kindness for a stranger and find joy in all circumstances.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Valley Baptist Church, 3640 Oak Grove Road, Glencoe, AL 35903 in her memory.

To learn more about organ donation visit legacyofhope.org/donate.