Karen Sue (VanLaningham) Lawson, 80, of Kirksville, Missouri, passed away Thursday, January 30, 2025 at The Pines in Kirksville.

The daughter of the late Dee Jonas and Hester Emily (Ewing) VanLaningham, she was born January 24, 1945 in Kirksville, Missouri. Sue was also preceded in death by three brothers, Murrell VanLaningham, Bob VanLaningham, and Carl VanLaningham; and three sisters, Sophie VanLaningham, Louise Johnston, and Jessie Asher. Sue was united in marriage to Duane Leon Lawson on November 25, 1988 in Kirksville, Missouri.

Sue is survived by her husband, Duane of thirty-six years; son, Joe (Teresa) Schmitter of Columbia, MO; step-son, David (Tina) Lawson of Kirksville, MO; sister, Jeanetta (Duane) Chrisman of Kirksville, MO; four grandchildren, Ben Lawson, Maddie Bell, Gretchen Schmitter, and Kyra Schmitter; four great-grandchildren, Natalee Bell, Genevieve Bell, Hanes Bell, and Charlotte Lawson; as well as a number of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Sue was a graduate from Greentop High School with the Class of 1963. She worked as a waitress a number of years before opening a day care service she managed for twenty years. Sue was last employed for J.C. Penney until her retirement.

Sue enjoyed several hobbies including working puzzles, quilting, growing house plants and sun flowers, and watching birds.

Sue was very devoted to her family and loved the time spent with them.

Public visitation will be held Sunday, February 2, 2025 from noon to 1:00 p.m. with the service following at 1:00 p.m. in the chapel of Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville. The service will be conducted by David VanLaningham and a reading by Pastor Virgil Jones. Interment will follow the service at Park View Memorial Gardens in Kirksville.

Pallbearers will be Dick Weber, Danny Phillips, Loren Wright, Weston Newell, Russel Jeffries, and Bobby VanLaningham.

Memorial donations in memory of Sue may be made to the Adair County Humane Society and may be left at or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501.