Area Obituaries
Karen J. Armstrong, age 82, of Lawrenceville, Illinois passed away on Tuesday, December 26, 2023 at the Lawrence County Memorial Hospital in Lawrenceville, Illinois. She was born on July 21, 1941 in Lawrence County, Illinois, the daughter of Chester C. and Anna Pearl (Devin) Smith. She married Merle C. Armstrong on April 30, 1982, and he preceded her in death on March 01, 2016. Karen worked for Kmart for 17 years and was a school bus driver for 40 plus years. She was a member of the Birds Free Methodist Church. She loved her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed her flower beds, attending the Covered Bridge Festival, riding motorcycles with her group of friends, spending time with her friends, shopping, and babysitting her fur babies. Preceding her in death were her parents; husband; two brothers, Don Smith and Kenny Devin; two children, Gary Ford and Patty Shebish; two grandchildren, Chalsie Lynn Nicole Ford and Cindy Shebish; and one great-grandchild, Jacob Shebish. Survivors include eight children, Doug (Tanya) Ford of Palestine, Illinois, Dennis (Kathy) Ford of Princeton, Texas, Samantha (Jeff McKinney) Ford of Bridgeport, Illinois, Sandy (Ken) Shutts of Bridgeport, Nebraska, Bob (Diane) Armstrong of Sparta, Tennessee, Sheila (John) Correll of Bridgeport, Illinois, Penny (Frank) Correll of Sumner, Illinois, and Michael (Shelby) Armstrong of Layton, Utah; two brothers, Chester (Ellen) Smith, Jr. of Flat Rock, Illinois and Jan Smith of Vincennes, Indiana; one sister-in-law, Carol Smith of Flat Rock, Illinois, 20 grandchildren, Chris Ford, Katie (Ross) Herdes, Ashley Jo (Jefferey) Cassem, Alec Michael (Karmyn) Willis, Madison Byers, Joanie Shutts, Ryan (Lori) Shutts, Robert (Victoria) Armstrong, Christopher (Kylie) Armstrong, Matt (Kim) Armstrong, Nikki (B.J.) Wells, Tara (Aaron) Adamson, Eric (Marilyn) Adamson, Morgan (Kaylan) Correll, Whitney (Richie) Correll, Kelly Shebish, Jackie (Tony) Shebish, Courtney Olavarria, Andrew Armstrong, and Jacob Armstrong; several great-grandchildren; and companion, Phil Sharum. Funeral services will be conducted on Tuesday, January 02, 2023 at 1:00 PM CST at the Emmons-Macey ; Steffey Funeral Home in Lawrenceville, Illinois. Visitation will be on Monday from 2:00 PM until 5:00 PM CST at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Derr Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Lawrence County Cancer Resource Center ; Wig Shoppe. Please visit www.emmonsmaceysteffey.com to view the tribute and to send condolences.
