Karen Sue Thompson

Karen Sue Thompson of Waverly, Kansas passed June 29, 2024 at University of Kansas Health System – St. Francis Campus in Topeka, Kansas at the age of 80. Karen was born August 23, 1943 to John Kenneth Smith and Nellie F. Alumbaugh. She attended Argentine High School and throughout the following years, Karen furthered her education by taking many college and technical classes.

Karen lived and worked in Kansas City, Kansas until 1976, when she moved to Lake of the Ozarks, staying there until 1996. Places she was employed at the Lake include: Maggie Mae’s; Lodge of Four Seasons; Jackson Hole; and The Brass Door. From 1997 to 1999, in Kansas City, Missouri, Karen was employed at Ruth’s Chris Steak House as an office manager and at Harrah’s Casino as a Specialty Banquet Server. In 2000, she joined her eldest daughter, Lorri and Lorri’s husband, Clyde, to create and manage Shady’s “End of the Bend” Restaurant in Stover, Missouri. In 2004, at the age of 60, Karen was employed as a flight attendant for Frontier Airlines. Karen would commute to work from Waverly, Kansas to Denver, Colorado until her retirement from Frontier Airlines in 2018.

Karen married Billy Albert Duggins on June 21, 1961 and Rick W Thompson on July 4, 1968. Both have since passed away.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents, John K. Smith and Nellie F. Kalina. Karen leaves behind her children: Kevin Duggins of Kansas City, Missouri; Lorri Gentry (Clyde) of Waverly, Kansas; and Heidi Sykes (Christian) of Waverly, Kansas. In addition, she was well loved by her 5 grandchildren: Dusti Duggins of Belton, Missouri; Diane McMurtrey (Bryan) of Shawnee, Kansas; Joshua Billaci of Kansas City, Kansas; Brandon Billaci of Stover, Missouri; Hannah Gentry of Waverly, Kansas; and a further 8 great-grandchildren. Immediate family members who will miss her include Michael Miles (Wanda) of Glendale Heights, Illinois; Evelyn Lamb of Leavenworth, Kansas; Millie Halstead of Blanchard, Iowa; and Kathleen Barnett (Ron) of Leavenworth, Kansas. Furthermore, she will be missed by many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.