Originally of Bloomington, Maryland, Karen was born on July 26, 1959. She is preceded in death by her father, Everett "Buck" Knott; a brother, Richard E. Knott; and a sister, Kathy Ann Knott.
Karen relocated to Hampton, Virginia, in 1981, shortly before the birth of her son Jeffrey. She built a career with Hampton City Schools, serving for 32 years primarily as an instructional assistant. Upon her retirement in June 2026, Karen worked with young children at the Moton Early Childhood Center.
Karen also spent time at Captain John Smith Elementary, Mary T. Christian Elementary, and Paul Burbank Elementary Schools.
Karen was also an avid NASCAR fan, attending several races a year with her son.
Karen is survived by her mother, Patricia (Davis) Knott; her son, Jeffrey Cunningham; and cousins Ocie and Brenda Raines.
An informal wake for Karen will be held on Tuesday, July 28, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home & Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, supporters are asked to make a donation to the NASCAR Foundation.
