Karen Sue (Kidd) Deeds, 84, passed away but peacefully on the afternoon of Friday, May 22nd at her home in Montrose, CO surrounded from near and far with love from her beloved friends and family. She was born on April 18, 1942, in Beech Grove, IN, and was the youngest of four children born to Florence Lucille (Fetters) and Harold Ethan Kidd.

She had a wonderful childhood and graduated from North Central High School in 1960. Following high school, she attended Butler University and earned her Bachelor of Science in Education in 1964 and began teaching 2nd grade at the White River Elementary School in the Metropolitan School District of Washington Township in Marion County from 1965-1969 while working on her Master of Science in Education which she received from Butler University in 1969. After earning her master’s degree, she went on to teach for the Dept. of Defense Overseas Dependent Schools Program in Okinawa from 1969-70 and in Germany from 1970-1972. In 1972 she returned to Washington Township schools and taught 1st through 3rd grade at White River & Crooked Creek elementary schools.

On October 24, 1978, she was married and sealed in the Washington D.C. Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and they enjoyed 39 wonderful years of marriage until his death in July 2018. Following her marriage, Karen retired from teaching and lived with Sam near Sweetser, IN, enjoying time with their girls and grandkids while being very active in the Marion Ward of the LDS. In 1998, they relocated to Montrose, Colorado and while there, they formed countless cherished friendships with their church family and many others. Karen’s faith was a cornerstone of her life, and she served her church in many capacities during her years as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in both Indiana and in Colorado. She also served in the Chicago, IL, Denver, CO & Grand Junction, CO temples for many years. She worked in various callings within the church with primary children, young women and the Relief Society. She was a very engaged volunteer during her life, especially in Colorado. She volunteered at Montrose Regional Hospital for over 25 years as well as at the Family History Centers in both Marion, IN and Montrose, CO. She loved working on genealogy not just for herself but for others as well. In November 2023 she was honored to receive the Montrose County Civic Award for Community Service by the Montrose Republican Women.

To know Karen was to love her. She had a great sense of humor and a fun-loving nature that let her connect with everyone she met, especially her students and the children in the church. Her kindness was never-ending and her vibrant personality touched everyone she encountered. Her home was always open to anyone who needed to talk, discuss life’s challenges or just sit and visit. Karen’s positive attitude and strength exuded to the very end. She was a happy, positive, and independent person who was always ready, willing and able to help. When she was able, she enjoyed traveling home to Indiana and spending time with her many friends (some of them going back to elementary school!) and, of course, her family.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughters Deborah Jo Bronson and Pamela June (Steve) Tucker both of Kokomo. She will also be lovingly missed by her grandchildren Christopher Adam (Audreana) France; Samuel Lea (Adrian) France; Jessica Lynn Figueroa; Kimberly Sue (Andrew Strow) Brown; Brian Patrick (Tristen Hart) Tartal and Jacob Mace (Aubrey) Tucker. Additionally, she is survived by 12 great-grandchildren: Braylon, Emily, Nathan, Allyson, Anakynn, Isabella, Khaleesi, Rylen, Evelyn, Amelia, Elizabeth, Caleb & one more that’s still on the way.

Karen is also survived by her dear sister and best friend, Nancy Jo Harvey, in Carmel, IN as well as nieces & nephews: Debra (John) Vander Linden, Travis “Bart” (Jean) Kidd, Jr., David “Kip” (Jennifer) Kidd, Denise “Kim” Kidd, Kathy Jane (Skip) Partelow, Dianne (Greg) Christianson, James Edward Bowling, Susan Parsons and Carol (John) Ray. Many great-nieces and nephews will also miss her deeply.

Karen was preceded in death by her husband, Samuel D. Deeds, her parents, siblings: Travis Kidd & Judith Cutright and niece Nancy Sue (Patrick) Markey.

The family would like to express our sincere gratitude to Nikki Zwaschka & Tamara Hamner for all of their tireless assistance during Karen’s illness and also to the ladies from HopeWest Hospice for their patience and help when it was needed the most.

Karen’s Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, June 8th at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Marion, Indiana (1465 E. Bradford Street). Friends may call at the church from 10 am – 12 pm and the service will start in the church’s Chapel at 12:00 pm. Burial will follow at the Gardens of Memory cemetery north of Marion. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Karen’s memory to HopeWest Hospice (hopewestco.org), Tunnels to Towers (t2t.org), St. Jude Children’s Hospital (stjude.org) or to a charity of the donor’s choice.