Karen Lynne Tapp

Karen Lynne Tapp (Meyer), 64, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on November 22, 2025, at Advent Health Hospital due to complications from ALS (Lou Gerhig’s Disease). Visitation will take place at McGilley & Hoge Memorial Chapel (8024 Sante Fe Drive, Overland Park, KS) on December 20, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. and a Celebration of Life will follow at 2:30 p.m.

Karen was born on October 20, 1961, at Bethany Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas. She attended F.L. Schlagle HS where she enjoyed art class the most but also harbored desires to become a marine biologist. She was a member of the Alpha Phi sorority in college and made many lasting friendships. Even though she loved the water and spent as much time as she could swimming, her creative desires won out, as she graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1983. She married Dale Tapp on September 1st, 1984, at All Saints Lutheran Church in KCK and remained married forty-one years until her death.

Karen worked for seven years at KCKCC after receiving her degree. Afterwards, she worked for various ad agencies and built her own business where she freelanced for large and small companies. She loved meeting new people and helping them promote their businesses.

She suffered disabling injuries as the result of a 2018 car crash – the victim of a red-light runner who t-boned her car going over fifty mph. The severity of the crash left her with lasting trauma in body and mind that resulted in a lengthy recovery rendering her unable to work. It was reported that she was identified by the moniker; “the Volvo lady” in the trauma center at Overland Park Regional where she spent 12 days recovering. According to the medical staff, such crashes rarely resulted in a person surviving the encounter. After her genealogy work, she always said that she was a “Viking”…maybe that’s what saved her.

She had a gift for designing living spaces and a great sense of how to blend color and textures. She loved decorating for the holidays, spending time with family, creating wonderful meals, growing flowers, and gardening to relax. Her “green thumb” was extraordinary as she had a plant that has lived for over 50 years.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents, Marvin & Lorene Meyer, and her brother, Gary Meyer. Karen is survived by her husband Dale and son & daughter-in-law, Kyle & Amy Tapp, Aunt Delora and many cousins.

Karen will be remembered for her kindness, optimism, love for animals and strong sense of fairness for all. Her ability to sense when others felt pain was precious. She could always find the good in others.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Association in memory of Karen Tapp and sent to: The ALS Association, Attn: Donor Services, 1919 University Ave, Ste 175, St. Paul, MN 55104. You can also add: “to support Care Services or “to support research”, if desired. There will be flyers at the service as well. Additionally, you may also make your donations online @ https://www.als.org/ in her name.