Karen Henke

Virginia “Karen” Henke, age 74 of Refugio, Texas passed away Sunday, January 17, 2016.

Karen was born on January 30, 1941 in New Bern, North Carolina to the late Harvey Duguid McLawhorn and Virginia Taylor McLawhorn. Karen attended East Carolina University where she received a double-major in Art and focused her career on art education. She has taught and influenced numerous students and fellow artists from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina to Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and Corpus Christi by always providing encouragement to express your unspoken thoughts through your art and creations. In addition to her love of painting, Karen enjoyed spending time with her family, photography, travel, and fishing in Rockport, Texas. Karen was also a member of the Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church and Altar Society.

Karen is survived by her husband of 52 years, Jim Henke; daughters Jennifer (Brian) Kassa of Keller, Texas and Meredith (Jeff) Clark and granddaughter Madelyn Clark of Southlake, Texas; brother Claude McLawhorn of Vanceboro, North Carolina; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Harvey Richard McLawhorn.

A rosary will be held on Saturday, January 30, 2016 at Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church in Refugio at 10:00 AM. A funeral mass will follow at 10:30 AM at Our Lady of Refuge with Father John McKenzie presiding. In lieu of flowers, donations in Karen’s memory may be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children or to the Our Lady of Refuge Building Fund.