Karen L. Welch

Karen Lee Welch was born and raised in Tuscaloosa, AL, and graduated from Tuscaloosa High School in 1969. Over the years, she worked in Admissions at DCH and then as a Special Education Aide in Tuscaloosa County at Englewood Elementary School. Karen loved her family, her friends, her pets, fishing, and time in the sun. She adored her husband Lanny Welch and enjoyed every moment that they spent together. Karen was an avid baker and regularly shared her cookies, muffins, and assorted breads with family and friends. Though the last years of her life were impeded by dementia, she was loved and cared for deeply, and she will be truly missed by all who knew and loved her. Her kindness, laughter, generosity, and love for her family will remain in their hearts forever.

Karen is preceded in death by her parents, Dan W. Kilgo and Frieda O. Kilgo, and her husband, William DeLanny Welch.

She is survived by her son, Jeremy (Jenny) Auvil (Trussville, AL); stepdaughter, Christy Elizabeth Welch of (Elberta, AL);); brother, Mike (Karen) Kilgo (Tuscaloosa, AL); and grandchildren James Thomas Auvil (Trussville, AL), and John Isaac Auvil (Trussville, AL), Elizabeth Ann Howell (Dothan, AL), James Eli Howell II (Dothan, AL).

Pallbearers will be James Thomas Auvil, John Isaac Auvil, James Eli Howell II, Eric Weeks Howell, Matthew Richard Luker, Richard Norman Luker, and Wallace Hensley Welch III.

A visitation will be held at Memory Chapel Funeral Home on August 22, 2026, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm.

A funeral service will follow at 2:00 pm

A committal service will take place in Memory Hill Gardens