Karen Lee Lawrence was born on September 5, 1950 to Thomas V. and Patricia Ann Neal Griffith in Ponca City, Oklahoma. She lived with her parents and sister, Tommie, in Odessa, Texas until 1961 when they moved to Wichita, Kansas. She graduated from Goddard High School in Wichita in 1970. Karen married the love of her life Robert D. Lawrence on March 7, 1970 in Wichita, and together they had three children. They lived primarily in Wichita, but also lived in Seattle, Everett, and Des Moines, Washington.

Karen was a very spiritual person, and talked to anyone and everyone about her love of God. She liked art, sewing, painting, crossword puzzles, reading, watching the Golden Girls and MASH, and cooked great fried chicken and pork chops! She loved horses and all animals, especially poodles and schnauzer dogs. Most of all, she loved spending time with her grandchildren. She was loved by all who knew her and will be greatly missed.

She is preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by her husband, Robert; her three children, Tammie Lawrence of Park City, Kansas, Aaron Lawrence and wife Melissa of Blackwell, and Brad Hatfield of Wichita, Kansas; sister, Tommie Eberle of Stillwater; foster sister, Lynn Maxey of Wichita; thirteen grandchildren, Dustin, Brandon, Courtney, Kaylee, Ashley, Briana, Keldon, Breanna, Chelsie, Alexis, Damion, Joseph, and Thomas; and three great-grandchildren, Gage, Abigail and Lily.

A memorial service for Karen will be held at a later date at Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Arkansas City, Kansas.