Karen E. Williams

The world lost one of its sweetest souls when our beloved matriarch (“Nana” to all family), passed away peacefully on October 16.

Karen was a woman who simply refused to quit — a four-time cancer survivor who also battled (and beat) a near-deadly bleeding ulcer, a broken neck, a pulmonary embolism, and even a ruptured aortic aneurysm. None of those could take her down. Tough doesn’t even begin to cover it.

But what truly defined Karen wasn’t her resilience — it was her heart. She was the softest, most nurturing, kind, and loving person anyone could hope to know. Family was everything to her: the one she was born into and the one she built and guided as its sole matriarch for nearly forty years.

Karen never met a stranger. She genuinely cared about the details of your life — the small things most people overlook — and assumed everyone else was as honest, selfless, and loving as she was… until proven otherwise. She could be disarmingly gentle, but she didn’t suffer fools or tolerate disloyalty. Beneath that sweetness was a spine of steel.

She found her greatest joy in being surrounded by her loved ones, celebrating their accomplishments, and sharing in their happiness. She often reminisced about the many adventures she and her beloved Jack shared — the many trips they took, the early years of marriage away from St. Louis, and the deep bond she always cherished with her original family.

To know Karen was to love her — and to feel, always, the warmth of her genuine affection and unwavering support. Singularly unique, she was endlessly kind, deeply generous, and truly irreplaceable.

We, her family, are who we are because of her. There is zero doubt about her incredible impact on us all. And though we will miss her every single day, we’ll carry her love, laughter, and lessons in our hearts — always.

Adored wife of the late Jack O. Williams; “Nana” to Cyndi (Patrick) Weir, her daughters Ellyn (Dan) Schicker, Anna Weir & Maggie Weir and granddaughter Aubrey; Terri Shelton and her son Eric McClanahan; the late Kelly (the late Scott) Griffard and her children and grandchildren. Karen was an aunt, a cousin, sister-in-law and friend to many. Most patient and spoiling dog mom of Daisy, Chloe, Scruffy & Rosie.

Visitation: Sunday, October 26th from 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm at Hoffmeister Colonial Mortuary, 6464 Chippewa Street at Watson. St. Louis, MO 63109.

Visitation Monday, October 27 from 9:00 am until time of service at 10:00 am at Hoffmeister Colonial Mortuary.

The Committal will follow at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, 2900 Sheridan Rd, St. Louis, MO 63125 at 11:00 am.

If desired, donations in Karen's name may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105