Karen Keen

On the morning of July 16, 2023, Karen Sue Keen peacefully passed from this life at the age of 71 years, after a brief illness. Karen Sue (Tyler) Keen was born on August 5, 1951 in Guthrie, OK to George Fielding Tyler and Gladys (Bicknell) Tyler.

Karen was raised on a working cotton farm where she helped with all of the farm chores and had adventures only a country kid can have. She attended school in Guthrie until 1967, when Karen and her mother moved to Stilwell, OK so her mother could become the Director of Nursing at the Stilwell Nursing Home. Karen then attended and graduated from Stilwell High School, while also working at the local Dairy Berry. Upon graduation in 1969, she attended Northeastern State College in Tahlequah, OK. She worked at the Adair County Courthouse for a time before beginning her career with the Adair County DHS Office. She worked tirelessly to help numerous families and children by finding resources to meet their needs and provide for them a better life. She took this job to heart making many friends and acquaintances with staff and clients as well. Karen retired from DHS in 2003, after 30+ years. Not ready to fully retire, Karen began working at Walmart in Stilwell as a cashier and was well known to many customers for her friendliness and efficiency. Karen was gifted in connecting with people and making friendships. Karen retired for good in 2020.

Karen's retirement days were filled with tending to her beautiful flowers, feeding the deer and hummingbirds and caring for her dogs and cats. Karen's yard served as a sanctuary for all kinds of animals where she loved sitting on her porch watching and admiring them. Karen was a wonderful cook and will always be remembered for her delicious hushpuppies, brown beans and pancakes. She was certainly feisty and fiercely independent, but also a caring and thoughtful person who loved her children and grandchildren deeply.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents; George and Gladys (Bicknell) Tyler; Brother, Marion Tyler, and close friend, Nina Turner.

Karen is survived by her son, Tyler Dean Caughman and wife, Katie, of Coweta, OK; daughter, Randi Rae (Keen) Duncan and husband, Caleb, of Stilwell, OK; Five grandchildren, Parker, Trevor and Carter Caughman, and Cora Jean and Nolan Duncan; special friends Cathy Swift and Jeannifer (Swift) Scott.

Final resting place will be at Summit View Cemetery in Guthrie, OK.