Karen Sue Proctor passed through Heaven’s gates on Monday, Jan. 4, 2021, at Research Hospital in Kansas City.

Karen was born on Aug. 22, 1941, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to David Jack Watkins and Virginia Marjorie (Murray) Watkins. She grew up in Braymer and attended Braymer High School. She was united in marriage on May 27, 1961, to William Ray (Bill) Proctor of Braymer; and to that union, four children were born.

She was a housewife and full-time mother until the family moved in 1972 to Excelsior Springs. While living there, Karen worked for the Excelsior Springs Police Department as a police clerk and for Avsco Inc. as an executive secretary. She later worked as an executive assistant at Payless Cashways’ headquarters in downtown Kansas City. She received a paralegal degree in 1998 from William Jewell College and worked as a probate paralegal for UMB Bank for 10 years. After moving to Lawson, she began a post-retirement career with the Lawson Police Department, where she served as administrative secretary/police clerk to the chief of police from 2000 to 2013. She happily served the community of Lawson in many other capacities while living there. Upon the death of her husband Bill in 2013, Karen moved to Lee’s Summit to be closer to her daughters.

Karen was a dedicated and loving mother of four, grandmother of 10 and great-grandmother of seven. She especially loved her role as “Nanny” and treasured every moment she had with each of them. She always had a story to tell, and she made friends everywhere she worked and lived. She was treasured by all.

Karen is survived by her four children, Kellie Burkholder (Bill) of Lee’s Summit, Rhonda Garrison (Wayne) of Liberty, Scott Proctor (Maricoe) of Kirksville and Ginny Kiely (John) of Gladstone; grandchildren, Gretchen Tilman (Justin) of Kirksville, Ashley Nail (Cody) of Chesapeake, Virginia, Megan Kremer (Jeff) of Kansas City, Jacob Miller of Liberty, Delaney Kiely of Olathe, Kansas, Kade Proctor of Lee’s Summit, Erin Kiely of Gladstone, Peyton Burkholder of Chicago, Molly Kiely of Roeland Park, Kansas, and Aubrey Burkholder of Odessa; and great-grandchildren, Olive, Tate and Tucker Tilman, Kensley and Adelyn Kremer, and Christopher and Charlotte Nail.

She also is survived by her brother, Robert Patterson of Kansas City; nephews, Michael Patterson (Charissa) and family of Overland Park, Kansas, and Drew Patterson (Suzanne) and family of Lee’s Summit; and nieces, Page McAleese (Dave) and family of Berkeley Lake, Georgia, and Kimberly Taylor (Brent) and family of Eades, Tennessee.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; stepfather, George Patterson; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins with whom she was close throughout her life.

Karen was a member of the United Methodist Church and was active in Methodist churches in Braymer, Excelsior Springs, Lawson and Lee’s Summit. Over the years, she also was active in various clubs and organizations and volunteered with many charities. She never missed a swim meet; wrestling match; volleyball match; soccer, basketball or football game, a dance or piano recital; or school musical or play, if one of her kids or grandkids was a participant. She was always everyone’s biggest cheerleader and loved attending those events.

A private service for the immediate family will be live streamed for family and friends on Saturday, Jan. 23, at woodschapelchurch.org. A future graveside service will be held at Evergreen Cemetery in Braymer, when all friends and family can safely gather and socially distance.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Thompson Center for Autism at the University of Missouri, www.thompsoncenter.missouri.edu; or Autism Works Inc., 915 E County Road H, Liberty, MO 64068 (website: autism-works.org).