Karen Campbell Shelmire

Karen Campbell Shelmire, 84, of Dallas, Texas, died July 2, 2026. She was born on December 24, 1941, to parents Ted and Louise Campbell in Lubbock, Texas. She graduated from Hillcrest High School and attended Texas Tech University.

After Texas Tech, Karen set off on an adventure, joining the American Airlines team. As fate would have it, the apartment complex she chose happened to be the same one as her future husband, Bedford Shelmire — a debonair dermatologist practicing in Dallas. The two fell in love, married, and had two daughters, Camie and Bunchie. The family cherished many weekends at their farm in Sherman, Texas, and Karen and Bedford shared a deep love of travel, antiques, and collecting treasured pieces along the way. Though Bedford preceded Karen in death, it was well known that he was, and always would be, the love of her life.

Karen dedicated herself to arts, medical, and civic organizations, earning multiple fundraising awards for her tireless service and inspiring spirit. From participating on the arrangement committee for special events like the Junior League Ball, to welcoming a foreign ambassador from Sweden, to guiding non-profit public relations and donor relationships, Karen was a force for good in the community. She was instrumental in establishing Dallas City Hall's first-ever protocol office. She was a proud member of the Dallas Junior League and the Cerebral Palsy Guild. She also served on several boards: the National Society of Fund-Raising Executives; Greater East Dallas Chamber of Commerce; Sixty-Five Roses, a Cystic Fibrosis organization; and the Dallas Medical Auxiliary.

Karen had grit. Whatever the role, she showed up, worked hard, and made it count. She was particularly proud of her work in real estate, where she broke ground as a woman in the 1970s selling farms and ranches — a field few women entered at the time. She also sold condominiums, and later served as Corporate Development Director at Buckner Baptist Benevolences and as Development Director for the Natural History Museum in Dallas. She spent many years in retail as well, including time at the iconic Downtown Dallas Neiman Marcus.

Karen is survived by her daughters: Camie Shelmire Voigt and Bunchie Shelmire Engel; her son-in-law, Frank Voigt; her stepchildren, Louise Blount Shelmire and Jesse Bedford Shelmire IV and his wife Hoa Shelmire; grandchildren: Emma Olivia Engel and Anne Hollis Engel; also niece Sara Lara and nephew Chris Schopmeyer, and her dear friends Nancy Gabel and Irma Monsivais. She is preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Bedford Shelmire, Jr., and her sister, Vicki Lee Schopmeyer.

Karen was a longtime member of Church of the Incarnation. A private family burial will be held at Sparkman Hillcrest prior to the service. The memorial service will be held Friday, July 10, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at Church of the Incarnation, officiated by Father Oliver Lee. A lunch reception will immediately follow at Brook Hollow Golf Club.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to Buckner Baptist Benevolences (buckner.org) or Church of the Incarnation (incarnation.org).