Obituary: Karen Sue Williams

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Karen Sue Williams, 60, died suddenly on May 8, 2012, in Texas.

Karen was born on Dec. 5, 1951, in Herrin to the late Glenn and Alice (Buford) Smith. She graduated from Herrin High School in 1969. She was an Illinois State Scholar who had planned to attend college, but shortly after graduation she met the love of her life, Larry Dean Williams. Karen and Larry married in December of 1969 and shared the joys and sorrows this life had to offer for the past 42 years. Their first 18 years together, Karen and Larry spent raising their two children, Glenn Patrick and Leah Kay, just outside of Ridgway. Seeing that her children were nearly grown, Karen resumed her dream of obtaining a college education in 1988. She attended her first two years at Southeastern Illinois College, where she received various awards and scholarships, most notably the Matthew J. Fry Scholarship for accounting majors. Karen graduated magna cum laude from SIC in 1990 and transferred to the University of Southern Indiana, where she graduated with honors. She was a wonderful wife, mother, sister and friend and will be greatly missed.

Karen is survived her husband, Larry Williams; son, Glenn Williams of Brandenburg, Ky.; a daughter, Leah Williams of Shawneetown; two sisters, Barbara Morgan of Harrisburg and Wilma Threlkeld of Herrin; and two grandchildren.

Visitation for Karen will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, May 14, 2012 at the Cox and Son Funeral Home in Ridgway. Funeral services for Karen will be at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15, 2012, at the funeral home. Interment will follow in the Hogan Cemetery south of Shawneetown.

You may leave a note of comfort to the family at the Internet site www.coxandson.com