Karen Lee Bogle

Karen Lee Melson Bogle, 78, of Atlanta, Georgia, died peacefully on July 19, 2023 with her family lovingly by her side. She was a dedicated homemaker whose devotion to her loved ones will live on through her family for generations to come.

Born July 22, 1944 to the late Paul L. and Mary Robbins Melson at Coleman Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana, Karen grew up in Hurst, Texas, where her family moved when she was three. She was just 13 months younger than her brother, Lin, with whom she fought like cats and dogs as a kid but who later turned into her best friend. Karen attended L.D. Bell High School in Hurst, where she had many fond memories of friends and of fun times going to Teen Canteen dances and donning her favorite poodle skirts.

Karen worked as an emergency room nurse after high school, where the doctors endearingly referred to her as being “handy as a comb in your back pocket” because of her resourcefulness and quick reflexes in stressful ER situations. She went on to work for one of the doctors at his private practice. One of her patients, Mary, set her up on a blind date with her nephew, Bob, who had just come back from the Navy. Two months after their first date they were engaged, and three months after that, they married and remained so for 56 years. Bob and Karen were soulmates and absolutely adored one another.

Like a true Southern woman, Karen always had her makeup on and nails done. She and Bob had one child, Amber, and Karen was Amber’s biggest fan. Spending countless hours proudly being room mom, a cheer mom, and more, Karen was also a co-leader of Amber’s Girl Scout troop and never missed a game, meeting, or field trip, if she could help it. Her enduring love for being involved carried through to the functions and activities of her grandsons Alex and Jack, including never missing a grandparent’s day at school and loudly cheering them on at their football and baseball games. Grammy was now Alex’s and Jack’s biggest fan, and always will be.

Karen shined brightest on holidays. Christmas was her favorite time of the year, and she decorated the whole home with thoughtfulness and intentionality. She would place decorations throughout the house, with Christmas trees in the dining room, guest room, and living room. Every Christmas Eve, she would gladly feed everyone homemade sausage balls and “Magic Cookie Bars,” alongside her infamous Hot Apple Cider. But it was her Corn Casserole that would prove to be her grandsons’ favorite, and as a result would be a recurring dish at all family holiday gatherings.

Always known as being a thoughtful and caring person, Karen knew of all her loved ones’ birthdays by heart and took great pride in celebrating their special days. Even this year, as she was fighting illness, she made sure Lin received his birthday card June 20. Karen passed away three days before her 79th birthday, and because birthdays are a big deal in the family, they spent the day appropriately: Amber, along with her father, husband, and the boys, ate cake on decorative plates and played Karen’s favorite card game, Black Queen. The cake was beautifully decorated and they celebrated amid flowers and balloons, just like Karen would’ve appreciated.

Karen’s strong Christian faith was a grounding presence in her life, and before she moved to Atlanta to be closer to family, she volunteered countless hours for Mission Central, the charitable arm of her local First United Methodist Church in Hurst, Texas, the church she attended as a child and also where she married the love of her life.

She will be remembered as the heart of the family, as well as a kind, vibrant, generous, and fun-loving woman, always wearing her sassy black sunglasses with a fitting nickname: “Hollywood.”

Karen is survived by her husband Bob, her daughter Amber Mette and son-in-law Jeff, and her grandsons, Alex and Jack Mette. She is also survived by her brother Lin Melson and sister-in-law Shirley; nephews Matt (sons Andrew and Austin) and Mark Melson (wife Jennifer, daughters Lily and Maddie, and son Jonathan); and niece Kelly Melson.

Memorial florals may be sent to Moore Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens. Memorial donations may be made to Mission Central Metroplex at First United Methodist Church of Hurst 740 East Pipeline Road Hurst, TX 76053 or to Kidlinks 2904 Floyd Street Dallas, TX 75204.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.moore-funeralhome.com for the Bogle family.