Karen Ackard Deal

Karen was born August 9, 1938, and lived with her mother and grandmother in Henderson, Texas, until her mother remarried when Karen was 11 years old. They then moved to Dallas. One of her special pillars of strength in Henderson was her Grand Mother Pearly who had moved to Henderson as a young child from West Tennessee. Grand Mother Pearly taught her many things and most especially to be kind to others.

Karen was employed by Frost Bank for over 30 years and in that capacity she became known as a very caring person with a big smile within and throughout the Frost system. She provided counsel to everyone coming to her desk with a problem. Resolution normally consisted of helping them with their banking needs, locating a place to live, finding employment and support groups to assist with their problems, finding a church to attend and a pastor to make contact with. She was also very involved with the San Antonio Bridge Ministries and spent many hours locating food to serve the homeless, helping with their church services and assisting wherever else she could. She was even involved in a service for the first baptism of San Antonio homeless individuals in the Frio River after they had turned their lives over to Christ. Her thoughts were that no one in San Antonio should ever have to go hungry for food or Jesus.

Karen graduated from North Dallas High School in 1956 and went on to graduate from Texas Tech University in 1960. After graduating from college, Karen moved to San Antonio and continued her involvement with the Pi Beta Phi Sorority. She also became active in various San Antonio clubs and church organizations.

Karen feels her greatest accomplishment was the publication of her book in 1990, "To Touch The Face of God". It was a compilation of the first 30 years of her life with emphasis on the highlights as well as good and bad memories.

Karen was a member of Trinity Baptist Church for many years. She was a singer in the Living Christmas Tree and never missed a performance. She is now a member of The Community Bible Church and had worked with the Pastoral Counseling Ministry until her pancreatic cancer was discovered six years ago.

Karen is survived by her husband Dr. Charles E. (Chuck) Deal, two daughters, Tracy Bitter Pressly and her husband, Dr. Thomas A. Pressly III, Amy Bitter Scheiber and her husband, Bruce W. Scheiber, three grandchildren, Catherine Pressly Herring and her husband, Mason W. Herring, Thomas A. Pressly IV, Katie Lynne Scheiber; step-daughter, Linda Gonzalez and husband, Robert; step-sons, Stephan Deal, Christopher Deal and wife, Stephanie; and many nieces and nephews. Karen wants to thank all her friends and family for all of their support and particularly the S.T.A.R.T. Center and the staff of Dr. Lon Smith.

She survived both breast cancer and pancreatic cancer for many years. Most folks only survive pancreatic cancer for 2 years or less after discovery. Her philosophy was that she may die from hang gliding over the Grand Canyon but not from pancreatic cancer. It should be noted that she did actually hang glide over the Swiss Alps and a few years ago fell in love with it.

She gave us this rendition of an article (author unknown) and wanted it to become a part of her obituary, "Hello Lord, it's me. I have been given the privilege of participating in two pancreatic clinical trials for my cancer over the past six years. Some of the medications had only been tried on rats but you allowed me to survive them. My fervent prayer is that they will help some other future victim of pancreatic cancer realize full recovery. Lord I do not want to bother you too much but must say before I come to your house that we are getting older and things are getting bad here. Gas prices are too high, no jobs, and food and heating costs are also too high. I know some have taken you out of our schools, government & even Christmas, but Lord I'm asking you to come back and re-bless America. We really need you! There are more of us who want you than those who don't! Thank you Lord, I love you."

Rev. Tommy Lyons and Rev. Robert Emmitt will officiate at her service. Interment will follow in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.

Karen has requested that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the South Texas Accelerated Research Therapeutics (S.T.A.R.T) Center at 4383 Medical Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229 for the furtherance of pancreatic cancer research or to a charity of your choice.