Karen was born to the late David and Bonnie Willett on October 25, 1955, in Columbia, Missouri. Growing up, Karen enjoyed spending as much time as possible with her grandmother Lucille Cunningham on their small farm. Following high school, Karen enjoyed bowling with friends in Columbia and that is where she met her husband, Glen Johnson. Glen and Karen were married on October 30, 1976, at the Little Bonne Femme Church in Columbia, Missouri. Together they had three children: Kimberly, Leigh Etta, and Kyle.
Karen loved spending time in the kitchen cooking lavish desserts for her family. Her grandchildren always looked forward to her special no bake cookies and mini cheesecakes that would be shared at birthday parties. Karen also looked forward to decorating the house for Christmas in anticipation of the grandkids coming together and celebrating the holidays. The grandkids looked forward to finding their personalized ornament on the “huge” tree each year.
Karen was preceded in death by her parents, David and Bonnie Willett, father-in-law Alvin Johnson, and a brother, Randy Willett.
She is survived by her husband, Glen Johnson of Myrtle, Missouri; daughters Kimberly Anderson of Warrensburg, Missouri, Leigh Etta Barnhart (Michael) of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and son Kyle Johnson of Thayer, Missouri; grandchildren Elizabeth Anderson, Daphne Barnhart, Meredith Barnhart, Jonah Barnhart, and Clay Johnson; mother-in-law Geraldine Johnson of Myrtle, Missouri; aunt Milamari Cunningham of Columbia, Missouri; sister Christy Ford (Gary) of Columbia, Missouri, and brother Steve Willett of Centralia, Missouri.
A graveside service is scheduled for Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at the Hickory Grove Cemetery in Alton, Missouri under the direction of Clary’s Funeral Home of Alton, Missouri. Mr. Keith McFann will officiate the service. Family and friends that would like to pay respects to Karen may do so at the Clary Funeral Home for a drop-in visitation from 9:00 a.m on August 3, 2021, until 12:00 p.m. on August 4, 2021.
Serving as honorary pallbearers are David Johnson, Phil Johnson, Dalin Combs, Michael Barnhart, Scott Hargus, and Scott Combs.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
