Karen Diamond Killebrew

FENTON, Mo. -- Karen Sue Diamond Killebrew, a loving wife, mother, sister and grandmother, formerly of Sikeston, Missouri, passed away Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020, at her home at the age of 78.

She was born April 10, 1942, in Sikeston, daughter of the late Andy and Sarah Henson Kappler. On April 16, 1960, she married Larry Diamond. He preceded her in death July 26, 2003. On May 10, 2010, in Sikeston in the City Park Gazebo, she married Cary Killebrew. He survives of the home in Fenton.

She worked as an operator for Southwestern Bell and later was a call center manager for AT&T for a total of 34 years of service before retiring.

Karen enjoyed riding Harley-Davidson motorcycles with friends and the Cape Girardeau HOG group. She also enjoyed classic cars, especially her Corvettes, and collecting vintage Fire King cookware.

In addition to her husband, Cary Killebrew, Karen is survived by one son, Lloyd (Alison) Diamond of Cape Girardeau; one daughter, Judy Diamond of Sikeston; two stepdaughters, Jennifer Killebrew of Lake St. Louis, Missouri, and Tanya Becker of Wildwood, Missouri; seven grandchildren, Darek Diamond, Dylan Diamond, Jessie Diamond, Jennifer Diamond, Matthew Becker, Charlotte Becker and Adam Becker; and two great-grandchildren, Aayden Diamond and Ethan Diamond.

In addition to her parents and first husband, she was preceded in death by four brothers, Albert, Arnold, Joe and Andrew Kappler.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston.

Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Johnny Hester will officiate. Burial will follow in Unity Baptist Cemetery in Benton, Missouri.

Pallbearers will be Tim Kellick, Ben Kellick, John Sells, Gary Hampton, Tim Merideth and Roy Merideth.