We had so many good times at cass high. We laughed an we were crazy but in a silly way. I loved Karen she was a very good friend. An I will miss her smile. She had a great smile an a great laugh. Fly with the angels. Love Vicki

Karen was a dear friend in middle to high school.  We shared the same name along with many other Karen’s in our grade I guess it was the popular name from our mama’s.  It was how we first bonded and became wonderful friends.  I loved how carefree she was and always wished I could be more like that.  While we had not saw each other in many years she always had a special place in my heart and I know her daughters were her world❤️  I also know that Carey you were the love of her life and thank you for making her happy and taking care of her and loving her❤️  My prayers and thoughts are with you all.

Karen was very special. Her father was my cousin and she and I were not only family,  we also became  good friends. I  enjoyed occasional visits  with her over the last few years   and no matter what she was going through she  was cheerful and upbeat.  Carey, Brook, Meagan, and Rebecca my thoughts and prayers are with you as you  face the days ahead. I will surely miss the visits with my  sweet friend.

I have memories for days but the one that stands out most now was her teaching me how to “catch” bumblebees when I was little. I feel like if she was outside, there was always a bumblebee on her somewhere. 
It’s the most impactful now because I taught my girls how to do it too just as she taught me. 
She lives on in not only everything we have learned from her but in everything we teach our children that she taught us.

So sorry Jennifer and I will not be able to attend the service tomorrow.  Karen and Steve were as much a part of my growing up as anyone.  The Cornelius grandkids were close and are still bound by a real love and a fondness of who and where we came from. To Carey, Brook, Meagan and Becky – my condolences on your great loss.   My prayer for you is that the love you have for each other and the love Christ brought to all of us will sustain you through this time.

My memories of Karen are cherished and many.  I’d like to share just a few:

Karen is and always was inseparable from Steven.  The love and support they gave each other is an inspiration to all who knew them.  I’m sure their reunion in Heaven was  a joyous one.  They spent their whole lives together and fought the same disease for much of their lives.  The world would be a better place if everyone loved their siblings like Karen and Steve loved each other.

I took a long drive today and my thoughts kept returning to Karen as a representative of all the Cornelius grandkids.  Karen was, at times,  a mean kid who picked on Steve when they were young and simultaneously fiercely protective of him  if anyone else dared to pick on Steve.  She was the little girl who our aunts helped raise and then she was the “grown up” who took Kelli, Jennifer ,  and Alisha under her wing.  Karen spent some time as a rebellious teenager and then a lot more time being a doting parent.  She was a caretaker to Wanda and Steve and relished in the love and comfort she shared with them.  Each time we Karen  and I saw  each other, she offered a word of encouragement and words of love to my family.  I will truly miss her.

Finally, to Carey – it seemed to me that all the best times in her life were spent with you.  She was so proud of Brooke, Meagan and Becky and, of course, all of her grandbabies.  As legacies go, one cannot do better than that. 



Karen was a very sweetan friendly person.If she knew you and she seen you out she would say hey.She always told me hey when she seen me and ask how I was.She will be missed by alot of people.

Karen and I were friends in school and it was so good to see her in dollar tree when she worked there.  She and several others from our class decided awhile back to get together for a meal, I will always cherish that night, we laughed we caught up! I just wished we had stuck with our plans to meet up monthly.  RIP our sweet friend!❤️

Karen was my oldest friend. We had wonderful times playing together, having sleepovers and getting into mischief.  I am proud to have you as a friend. I admire your strength and determination. The wings you now wear are so earned and deserving  of you. I will honor your memory  and keep it alive. You're in my heart and I will celebrate your life, not mourn our loss. I pray that you have peace, love and light. Enjoy your reunion with your family in heaven, they have been waiting for you. God bless your soul. I'm sorry I couldn't say goodbye and that I love you. You will be so missed. Our loss is heavens gain!!!

OBITUARY

Karen Lynn Fortenberry

July 26, 1963 – May 15, 2020

Owen Funeral Home

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