Karen K. Berry

Karen Kay Berry, age 71, of Green Ridge, Missouri, passed peacefully into eternal life on July 3, 2026.

Karen was born to Ronald and Shirley (Eichholz) Berry on June 8, 1955, and grew up on the family farm near Green Ridge. She participated in 4-H, vocal and instrumental music (piano and flute) activities, and reading, reading, reading! From a very young age, Karen “marched to her own drummer,” was an independent thinker, and strongly opinionated about many subjects, often to the chagrin and alarm of her parents and siblings.

Karen graduated as salutatorian of her Green Ridge High School Class in 1973 and earned a BS in Elementary Education in 1977 at Central Missouri State University (now University of Central Missouri), Warrensburg, Missouri. She later earned sufficient college credits to almost complete her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education, but refused to “waste her time writing a thesis.”

Karen enjoyed a thirty year career teaching the lower elementary grades. Teaching was her passion, and she loved “her children.” There was never a question as to who was in charge in her classrooms (“The General”); she had high expectations for each of her students and expected them to work hard to meet those expectations! While she had a genius level IQ, the students she related to and treasured most were those who struggled academically.

Karen taught in Brookfield, Missouri, Bairoil and Rawlins, Wyoming, and Yuma, Arizona. Because of her high level teaching skills, she was selected to participate in the establishment of a public “magnet” school in Yuma that emphasized high student performance and parent participation. After leaving teaching, she worked at Walmart in Yuma for almost 15 years, preferring to work nights, and always offering to work holiday shifts so her co-workers could spend holidays with their families.

On July 3, 2020, Karen returned to Missouri and her childhood home. Always content with her own company and with entertaining herself, she enjoyed jigsaw puzzles (often working on 2 or 3 puzzles at a time), reading (often reading 2 or 3 books at a time), and crossword puzzles. She was accomplished at doing fine hand sewing, creating beautiful embroidered and counted cross-stitch pieces. Karen was also the person you wanted on your team when playing “Trivial Pursuit” because she could instantly recall obscure information and facts.

Karen was predeceased by her parents. She is survived by her siblings: Cathy (John) MacPherson; Steve (Barbara) Berry; Kim (Doug) Brown, and Jan (Steve) Ritzo; one uncle: Matt (Barbara, now deceased) Green, as well as numerous cousins; nine nieces and nephews: Brad (Kristen) Dirck; Justin (Betsy) Berry; Kristen (Darin) Plummer; Michael (Cristen) Berry; Erin (Ira) Davis; Ashley Pearson; Ryan (Brooke) Brown; Megan (Mike) Elwood; and Chelsey (Keith) Cook; twenty-three great nieces and nephews, and one great, great nephew. She is also survived by Marny, Don and Maddison Foltz, special friends who became her Arizona family; the special lady friends at Primrose Assisted Living who embraced her, saved her a spot at the lunch table, and added to her quality of life with their friendship. While residing at Primrose, Karen received quality care from her nurses and aids, the Chaplin, Rev. Dave Jagemann, and kind, respectful, and thoughtful care from the staff at ACG Hospice, especially her nurse, Jennifer.

Services will be held on Friday, July 10, 2026, beginning at 10:00 am at Heckart Funeral Home, Sedalia, Missouri, with burial following the service in the Green Ridge Cemetery where she will be laid to rest next to her parents.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Show-Me Christian Youth Home, 24302 Mahin Rd., Lamonte, Missouri 65337, or the ALS Association. 1919 University Ave. W., Suite 175, St. Paul, MN 55104.