DeVella M. Karnes, 90, of Auburn died Sunday, Dec. 12, 2010, at Laurels of DeKalb Nursing Home in Butler. Mrs. Karnes was a homemaker and also worked as a secretary for the Dana Corporation in Auburn and then for the DeKalb County Drainage Board. She was a member of the Auburn Church of Christ, the Order of the Eastern Star, the Home Demonstration Club, and the Auburn Community Concert Association. She was born July 10, 1920, in Garrett, to William H. and Mary L. (Lock) Sleek. They preceded her in death. She married Harold Don DeWitt on Aug. 3. 1940, in Garrett, and he died Feb. 10, 1956. She then married Duaine H. Karnes I on July 11, 1958, in Auburn, and he died June 17, 2010. Surviving are five daughters and sons-in-law, Judy E. and Don Frank of Stryker, Ohio, Karen R. and Phil Landel of Auburn, Cheryl S. and David Peck of Farmington, Arkansas, Christine A. and Jerry Wilhelm of Waterloo, and Freida L. and Randy Michael of Auburn; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Duaine H. Karnes II of Hamilton, and Douglas E. and Rita Karnes of Knoxville, Tennessee; a sister and Mary Harber of Tiffin, Ohio; 21 grandchildren; 29 great grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a son-in-law, John N. Grimm; a daughter-in-law, Karen L. Karnes; six sisters, Fern Sleek, Addie Sleek, Della Brown, Edna Byanski, Clara Morris, and Ruby King; and three brothers, Cloysey Sleek, William "Claude" Sleek, and C. Dale Sleek. Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Auburn Church of Christ, 208 West Eighteenth St., Auburn, with Pastor Douglas E. Karnes officiating. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Edgerton, Ohio. Calling will be from 2 – 4 and 6 – 8 p.m. Friday at Feller & Clark Funeral Home,875 S. Wayne St., Waterloo and also one hour prior to the service at the church Saturday. Memorials may be directed to the Auburn Church of Christ, World Team (grandsonTony/missionary to Mozambique, Africa), and/or Mystery Church (grandson Nathan/inner city ministry Webb City, MO).
Visitation 02:00 PM to 04:00 PM, Fri Dec 17, 2010 6:00 PM to 08:00 PM, Fri Dec 17,2010