Karen was born May 23, 1944 in Huntington, Texas to the late Horace and Mary Sowell. She is preceded in death by her husband Vernon H. Jennings, brother James Earl Sowell and sister Callie Louise McNeill. Karen is survived by her daughter, Kimberly Ann Jennings, son Kerry Allen Jennings, daughter in law Jana Jennings, son in law Page Dillehunt, grandson Jordan Allen Jennings and granddaughter Alexis Red Jennings, as well as her beloved cats Mocha and Sun-Sun. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews.
A small-town girl at heart, Karen attended Huntington High School where she was honored to be crowned Homecoming Queen in 1962. After completing her education and ready for a new adventure, she moved to Houston, Texas where she met her future husband Vernon. Karen also became a member of Willow Meadows Baptist Church, making cherished lifelong friendships. Karen was highly regarded as the Administrator for Dr. Michael E. DeBakey M.D. at Baylor College of Medicine early in her career and went on to become the Administrator for the Department of Surgery and Cardiothoracic under, both friend and colleague, Dr. George P. Noon M.D. for 45 years.
When she was not working, Karen’s focus was her family. Her treasured times with Kimberly often included shopping, debating fashion, and getting their hair done together. Her memorable times with Kerry were spent attending his many sporting events, discussing football, and, as a child, stopping by Shipley’s donuts. If she were not spending time with immediate family, she and her sister Callie could be found chatting on the phone or enjoying shopping sprees that would last for hours on end.
Karen had many interests, but her strong love for college football was what she was best known for. While her son Kerry played football at Baylor, she made sure to attend every weekend to cheer the Bears on. Although she supported several teams, her passion was the University of Texas Longhorns. Karen shared her passion for the Horns with her daughter, where the two spent many Saturday’s screaming and throwing things at the television. Often Kimberly would attend the games and Karen got play by play updates over the phone so she would know what happened before the TV caught up. Clearly, she passed her love of sports on to her children, and her couch coaching will be sorely missed during the seasons to come.
As much as her Saturdays were taken by sports, she would drop everything for her greatest joys, her grandchildren. She was affectionately called “Ammaw” by both Jordan and Alexis. Jordan (“Bubba”) was her first grandchild, and it was often joked that he was the “golden child” due to the many pictures hanging around her home. Although Alexis (“Lexi”), came a little later, she was her special little princess. Her Ammaw loved her creativity and, as her family laughed on, she would eat anything her princess whipped up for her in the kitchen.
In Karen’s later years, she enjoyed being at home with her two cats, watching the Houston Astros, the Houston Texans, Family Feud, the news, enjoying visits from (and cooking for) her family at holiday’s.
Karen will be cherished as the loved and admired person that she was in life and the family takes comfort knowing that she is resting in peace.
The memorial service will be livestreamed; the link may be accessed by selecting the "Join Livestream" icon in the service information section.
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