Karen Ann Jones

Karen Ann Jones, 69, of Overland Park, passed away at home on Thursday, January 13. Karen was born and raised in Overland Park, a graduate of the Shawnee Mission West class of 1970. She met the love of her life, Randy, and they started their family, welcoming their first daughter together in 1971. Karen was a cosmetologist for 20 years, while she took care of her husband, raised their daughter, cared for her mother throughout her extended illness and passing, added a teenage son and daughter into the family fold, and welcomed another daughter and twin sons of their own. Later, Karen followed her dream of becoming a nurse, graduating from the University of Kansas in 1993 with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and beginning her career as a Pediatric Nurse at the University of Kansas, then finishing it at Children’s Mercy Hospital.

Karen was a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, and a friend. Her heart was big, and she showered those she loved with everything she had to give. While Karen was a devoted daughter, and a doting mother, she found her real purpose and love for life following the birth of her first grandson. More than any other role she played in life, Karen relished being Grandma. She was very active in her grandchildren’s lives; three of her five grandsons spending much of their baby-time with her. She was ecstatic for ballet slippers and tutus when she welcomed her only granddaughter two years ago, but equally loved wearing her eldest grandson’s player button at his high school basketball games, screaming as loud as she could for every soccer goal scored, and beaming with pride for every taekwondo and jiujitsu belt earned. Karen loved traveling to California to visit her son and grandson there, and was able to meet her newest grandson shortly after his birth in September of last year. Karen loved the sun, the ocean, chocolate, Diet Coke, crime dramas, James Bond movies, and dogs of all kinds. But most of all, she loved her family.

Karen was preceded in death by her mother, Mildred Jensen. She is survived by her husband, Randy; her children, Melanie (Susan), Jennifer, Jonathan (Alissa), Daniel (Lexi), and Michael (Julie); brother, Richard Jensen (Gay); and grandchildren, Emmitt Brooks, Miles Brooks, Levi Jones, Gunnar Jones, Raven Jones, and Jake Jones.

Visitation will be at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 26 at McGilley & Hoge Johnson County Memorial Chapel at 8024 Santa Fe Drive in Overland Park, Kansas. Celebration of Life to follow at 2:00 p.m. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the following: University of Kansas Endowment-KU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, KU Endowment c/o Lindsay Hummer, Mail Stop 3012, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, Kansas City, KS 66160.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mcgilleyhoge.com for the Jones family.