Karen Louise Collins, 65, of Haw River, NC passed away on March 28th, 2023 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.
Karen was born on October 13th, 1957 to William and Emma Nerone in Springfield, IL. She attended school in her lovely small town of Pawnee before she went on to technical school at Browns Business College. She became a secretary in Springfield, IL, which sent her to Denver, Colorado for a United Mine Worker’s convention where she met her husband, Johnny Collins when he sat next to her on the bus.
Everyone knew she’d met the one when she packed up all her belongings and made her way to the wild and wonderful place of Matewan, WV. It was there they got married on October 6th, 1980 and later welcomed their son, John Patrick, on April, 26th, 1984. The family of three made their way to North Carolina, where they welcomed a baby girl, Mary Elizabeth, on June, 2nd, 1991. It was in Haw River, NC where Karen would make their family home beautiful with all the flowers, stencils and decorations she loved so dearly.
Karen loved making sweet memories with her family, spending Thanksgivings in Illinois, going to Mountaineer games in West Virginia, and enjoying vacations on the Coast of South Carolina. She was the epitome of a true southern lady, always wearing her beautiful outfits with her lipstick, hats and scarves. She wanted everyone to know that she lived a wonderful life and she is so thankful for all the memories she made with family and friends.
Karen was preceded in death by her mother, Emma, her son, John Patrick, and her niece, Hannah. She is survived by her husband, Johnny, daughter, Mary, son-in-law, Jim, grandson, Jimmy Riggins to whom she was affectionately known as Honey; her dad, Bill, brothers Craig (Birdie), Alan (Lisa), Gary (Amanda), nieces and nephews Natalie, Daniel, Zachary, Aidan, Fred, and Helen; her brother-in-law Mike (Robin), and their daughters, Jennifer and Amanda.
The family welcomes everyone for a celebration of life for Karen at Mebane Street Church of Christ in Burlington, NC on Saturday, April 8th, 2023 at 11:00.
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