Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother Karen Sue McConaughy Gotcher, 73, of Herndon, KS, died on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at CHI Health Good Samaritan in Kearney, NE. A funeral service will take place at Traditions Funeral Home in Kellyville, OK, on Thursday, October 19, at 2 p.m., followed by interment at South Heights Cemetery in Sapulpa, OK. Bearers will be Kenny Gotcher, Joel Ward, Andrew Lucas, Jacob See, Kyle Choate and Leif Ward.

Karen was born on June 10, 1950, in Anamosa, IA, to Kenneth Laverne McConaughy and Jean Elaine Siefken McConaughy; she was the first of four children. As a child, Karen lived on the family's farm in Morley, IA, with her parents and three younger siblings: Janette, Larry, and Rosalie. She attended Morley Grade School and Anamosa Jr. and Sr. High Schools. While in high school, Karen was an active vocalist. She was a member of the Concert Choir (a choir soloist) and Madrigal Singers, and part of the All-State Choir, where she received first rating at the Solo and Ensemble Contest. Along with her musical achievements, Karen was a member of the National Honor Society and graduated in the top 10 percent of her class. She also volunteered at the local hospital as a candy striper while in high school.

On March 29, 1970, Karen married Michael Dean Gotcher, whom she met while attending Westmar College in Le Mars, IA, where she majored in music. They met as fellow cast members on a stage production and were married at the EUB church in Morley, IA. While they served as dorm parents at the Red Bird Mission in Beverly, KY, Karen gave birth to her first daughter, Rosanna Jean, on September 10, 1971. During this time, both Karen and Dean continued to be active with music as members of the gospel ensemble New Faith Singers.

While her husband Dean attended seminary at Lincoln Christian College in Lincoln, IL, their son Kenneth Dean was born on October 8, 1974. Karen was a continual support to her husband during the years that followed while he was in seminary and establishing his construction business, which led them to move to Tulsa, OK. While living in Tulsa, Karen worked as the office manager at the Oral Roberts University Word Processing Center for 16 years. During that time, her third child, Elizabeth Kay, was born on November 17, 1979.

In 1996, Karen began traveling with her husband Dean for speaking engagements nationwide. They traveled together for more than 20 years, visiting a total of 48 states and Canada! Karen also looked forward to traveling for recreation: Some of her favorite places to vacation were Florida and Colorado, where she enjoyed camping and fishing with her family. On their 25th wedding anniversary, Karen and Dean took a cruise to the lower Caribbean, which Karen really enjoyed.

Throughout her life, Karen kept up with many creative hobbies, including gardening, crocheting, reading, and singing. When she and Dean moved to Herndon, KS, in 2002, they decided to turn their property into a small orchard and plentiful fruits and vegetable garden.

Karen is survived by her husband Dean; daughters Rosanna Ward of Glenpool, OK, and Elizabeth (husband Anthony) Thomas of Sapulpa, OK, and son Kenneth (wife Renée) Gotcher of Castle Rock, CO; her 12 grandchildren, Hannah, Virginia, Stormie, Rachael, Audrey, Faith, Claire, Joel, Elise, Cadence, Leif, Melody; her six great-grandchildren, Harbor, Daxton, Cera, Norah, Thomas, Madelynn; and siblings Janette Beardsley, Larry McConaughy, and Rosalie (husband Ivan) Bowers of Anamosa, IA. Karen was preceded in death by her parents Kenneth and Jean McConaughy.

Visitation will be from 6-8pm, Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at Traditions Funeral Chapel in Kellyville. Services will be 2pm, Thursday, October 19, 2023, also at Traditions Funeral Chapel. Interment following at Green Hill Cemetary in Sapulpa, OK.  Arrangements are under the direction of Traditions Funeral and Cremation Services, 35 S. Main, Kellyville, OK, 918-247-7373.