Karen Raye Farrell

Karen Raye Sheaffer Farrell passed away peacefully surrounded by family on April 24, 2024 at the Muskegon Poppen Hospice House. She was a mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend to those who knew her and for those many “relatives” who she thought “looked familiar”.

She was born March 18, 1949 to Benjamin “Roy” and Goldie (Bigelow) Sheaffer in Muskegon, Michigan, the oldest of 3 children. She graduated from Reeths Puffer High School where she played basketball, the clarinet and later bass clarinet because she liked the sound of low notes. She had close high school friends: Gloria, Shirley and Loraine.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Blain Sheaffer and sister in law Sue Sheaffer.

She is survived by brother Glenn (Kaye) Sheaffer. She married Norman Fisher and had two girls Julie Rae (Fisher), (John) Jacobusse of Saugatuck, MI and Theresa Ann (Fisher) Stowe of Richland, MI. She later had Robert Allen Fisher of Grand Rapids with Ronald Larson and Thomas Roy (Christina) Farrell of Allendale with Kneale Farrell. Beloved Grandchildren: Allyssa, Kristin, Abigail, Dakota, Alexces, Kyler, Sahara, Emily, Adalee, Kiersley and Great Grandchildren: Isabella, Kayden, Evelyn and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

She raised her four children with Kneale in Allendale, Michigan. It was there where she made lifelong friends Dorothy Burgwald and Steve Gemmen.

Karen worked at Baker Furniture in Holland and then became a stay home mom, enjoyed crafts and volunteered at Allendale Civil Defence. Later, she worked at Speedway gas station in Allendale. She spent hours on her Ancestry family tree and liked to share the information. She loved her pets, especially a siamese cat “Kit Kat”.

A celebration of life will be held on Thursday, May 2 at 1:00 pm and a visitation on Wednesday May 1 from 6-8pm at Ever Rest Funeral Home and Chapel, 1783 E Keating Ave, Muskegon, MI 49442.

A private family burial will be at the Richardson Cemetery in St. Helen, MI at a later date.

Memorial contributions in honor of Karen may be made to Harbor Hospice (Poppen Residence).

Please visit www.everrestfuneralhomeandchapel.com for further information.