Karen Parrish Jarmon of Fuquay-Varina, NC passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her family, on September 18th, 2022. She was born in Charlotte, NC on June 16, 1963, to James Parrish and the late Nancy Ann Fair.
Karen grew up in Cary, NC and attended Cary High School. She earned a degree in nutrition from Meredith College and a master’s degree in public health from UNC Chapel Hill. She spent her career serving the families of Wake County as a registered dietitian with the WIC program until her retirement at the end of 2020. During her 25-year tenure with WIC she was a supervisor of the breastfeeding peer counselor team and was passionate about the work they did supporting breastfeeding mothers and babies in the community.
Karen was a loving wife of 38 years to Mike, a wonderful mother, and an especially devoted nana. She loved traveling with Mike, spending time with her family, cooking a meal with her children, and enjoying hours of conversation. She was an avid reader who could often be found in a cozy chair with a good book and a cup of hot tea. Her imagination and creativity were limitless, as demonstrated by the many hobbies she enjoyed. Cooking, baking, cake decorating, knitting, gardening, bird watching, drawing, and horseback riding were among her favorite pastimes.
Her creativity shined the most around the holidays as she adored building intricate gingerbread houses with her grandchildren, crafting beautiful wreaths, and wrapping piles of gifts complete with gorgeously hand tied bows. She always knew how to create a bit of magic for those she loved best. Karen had a beautiful smile, a quirky sense of humor, a fondness for just a little mischief, and a unique way of listening and giving advice that was kind and genuine.
Karen was preceded in death by her mother, Nancy Ann Fair.
Left to cherish her memory is her husband, Michael Jarmon of the home; daughter, Kelly Isley and her husband, Phillip of Raleigh, NC; son, Wesley Jarmon and his wife, Alyson of Mebane, NC; grandchildren, Lachlan Isley, Elizabeth Isley and Felicity Isley of Raleigh, NC; father and stepmother, James and Jean Parrish of Cary, NC; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the medical team at Duke as well as the Transitions LifeCare Hospice team for the compassionate care they provided to Karen and her immediate family.
A celebration of life will be held at Apex Funeral Home, 550 Williams St., Apex, NC, on Monday September 26th, 2022, at 2:00pm with a reception for friends and family to immediately follow. A private graveside service will be held at a later date.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.apexfuneral.net for the Jarmon family.
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