Karen Kay DeVos
October 22, 1938 - November 18, 2016

Obituary for Karen Kay DeVos

Karen Kay DeVos was born October 22, 1938 in Warren County, Iowa the daughter of Orlo Franklin Taylor and Frances Izetta (McClintic) Taylor.

She was raised in the New Virginia, Ackworth and Indianola areas. Karen graduated from Indianola High School with the Class of 1956. One evening, while on the Knoxville square, Karen met a young man named Richard Lee DeVos. On June 28, 1957 Karen married the love of her life, Richard DeVos, at the First Christian Church in Knoxville. Karen worked as a cook at the Attica School and later at Twin Cedars Elementary until 1979.

Karen was a very faithful person and was always active in the churches in which she and Richard were members. She always shared her talent for cooking with her church and had made countless church and funeral dinners. Karen also babysat for countless families through the years and was a volunteer receptionist at the Knoxville Senior Center. She and Richard enjoyed wintering in Arizona from 1989- 2005 and while in Arizona, Karen made many craft items.
Karen passed away on Friday, November 18, 2016 at the Pleasant Care Living Center at the age of 78 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings: Nicki Ginder, Ruth Pinegar, Merrill Taylor, Orlo “Bud” Taylor, Bill Taylor, Russell Taylor and Ron Taylor and her husband Richard on June 25, 2016.

Those left to cherish Karen’s memory include her children: Deb (Rick) Kingery of Knoxville and Darla (Jon) Whitlatch of Knoxville; 6 grandchildren: Darin DeZwarte, Kelli (Jon) Pierce, Kerri (Derek) Christensen , Kasie (Clem) Morrison, Jarad (Dianna) Whitlatch , Scott (Candace) Whitlatch; 6 great-grandchildren; 5 step great-grandchildren; in-laws: Dena May Deitrick, LuEtta Martinache, Doris Smith, all of Knoxville; Emma Jean Chapman of Des Moines; Don DeVos of Lowell, Arkansas and Harold DeVos of Cedar Rapids; sister-in-law, Mary DeJoode of Pleasant Hill and many other family members and friends.

Funeral services for Karen DeVos age 78 of Knoxville will be held at the Bybee & Davis Funeral Home on Tuesday, November 22, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow in the Greenwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Monday evening at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Pella.