Karen Sue (Pettit) Perkins, 76, of Kirksville, Missouri, passed away Wednesday, November 8, 2023 at her home with family by her side.

Born February 3, 1947 in Kirksville, Missouri, Karen was the daughter of the late Woodrow Warren and Bertha Alice (Pinkerton) Pettit. On September 8, 1970 in Milan, Missouri, Karen was united in marriage to Pearl Abernathy who preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by three brothers, Merl, Darrell and Phillip Pettit, and one sister, Mary Pettit.

Karen is survived by one son, Nathaniel McGowin of Kirksville, MO; four daughters, Anna (Carl) Conley of Novinger, MO, Flora (Mark) Ridgeway of Columbia, MO, Stephanie Perkins of Chillicothe, MO, and Leona (Charles) Jackson of Moravia, IA; eighteen grandchildren; and twelve great-grandchildren, as well as several nieces and nephews.

Karen was a graduate from Kirksville High School. She worked a number of years at McGraw Edison Company before moving to Olean, MO where she spent twenty-years until moving back to Kirksville in 2016 to make her home. Through the years, Karen enjoyed bartending. She also enjoyed sewing making earrings and necklaces, bird and squirrel watching, and had a great love for her dog Butch and her cat Houdini. Most of all Karen loved and thought the world of her family.

Graveside services will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday, November 13, 2023 at Maple Hills Cemetery in Kirksville.

Pallbearers will be Carl Conley, Matthew Conley, Ayden Conley, Charles Jackson, Nathan McGowin, and Carly O'Haver.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations in memory of Karen may be made to her daughter, Anna Conley for funeral expenses and may be left at or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501.