Karen Joy (Sullins) Carter

Karen Joy Sullins Carter, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, cousin, and friend, died in Wichita Falls, Texas, on Nov. 24, 2023. Services will be Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at First Methodist Church, Seymour, with Rev. Ryan Ford and Rev. Jay Gage officiating. Burial will be in the Masonic Cemetery under the direction of Archer Funeral Home. Visitation will be Monday, Nov. 27 at Archer Funeral Home from 5-7 p.m.

Karen was born Aug. 22, 1939, in Knox City, Texas, to Hoyle Aaron Sullins and Lois Aleitha Hughes. She started school in Laredo, Texas, where her father served in the Border Patrol. The family returned to Vera, Texas, and Karen attended the Vera schools through the eighth grade. She and her parents moved to Seymour, Texas, so she could attend Seymour High School. She graduated with the Class of ’57 and went to Texas Tech and then graduated from North Texas State University, now the University of North Texas, with her Home Economics degree in 1960.

On Aug. 22, 1960, Karen married fellow Seymour High classmate Rea Lindley Carter, Jr. They shared 54 years together before Rea’s death in 2015. She loved caring for Rea and their children and grandchildren. Many of her students and her children’s friends thought of her as their other mother. When she added grandmother to her roles, she became KK to her grandchildren, their friends, and so many other people who considered her a second grandmother.

Karen began her teaching career in 1960 in New Deal, Texas. She then taught in Goree, Texas, operated a private kindergarten, and finally taught for more than 30 years in Seymour, retiring in 2002. Following her “retirement,” she served as a substitute teacher until 2019. By the time she fully retired, she was teaching the grandchildren of some of her first students. As a home economics teacher, she led classes in child development, home and family living, and home economic cooperative education in addition to cooking and sewing. Later in her career, she taught physical science and journalism.

Her beloved First Methodist Church, Seymour, was the recipient of her prayers, presence, gifts, and service for almost 60 years. Karen was the church council chair, as well as a member and chair of many other committees. She taught Sunday School, sponsored the Methodist Youth, coordinated Vacation Bible School, organized the altar flowers and cooked meals for youth meetings long after her own children had moved on. Her loving devotion was shared throughout the life of the church.

Karen’s service extended deeply into the community. She was a member of the Meals on Wheels council, Friends of the Library board, Retired Teachers Association, Vera Reunion committee, and the American Heart Association.

Karen was predeceased by her husband and her son Lindley Hoyle Carter. She is survived by her daughters, Cecila Hardin and husband Tony, Camille Baker and husband John, and Stephanie McMullen and husband Vic; her grandchildren Paige Peters and husband Ross, Thomas Baker, Ty Hardin, Jacob Hardin, Jackson McMullen and wife Elyse, Lydia McMullen, and Eli Hardin; her great-grandchildren Ellie, Luke, and Lane Peters; her sister-in-law Nancy Harrison; and many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Memorials may be made to the First Methodist Church, Seymour, 1025 W. California, Seymour, TX 76380, or the Seymour School Foundation, 409 W. Idaho, Seymour, TX 76380 (Donation forms may be picked up at the funeral home).