Karen Ann (Banks) Sibley was born March 23, 1964, in El Dorado Springs, MO to Steve and Donis Banks. She passed peacefully at Community Springs Nursing Home surrounded by family and friends Friday, September 1, 2017, after battling disease for nearly twenty-one years.
Karen was born and raised in El Dorado Springs. From a young age she was a devoted Christian that continued throughout her entirety. She enjoyed her childhood with her brother, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Throughout high school, Karen was a member of the Bulldog Band and the cheerleading squad. You could also find her carhopping at Simone’s Drive In. After graduating high school in 1982, Karen met the love of her life, Kirk. Upon graduation from Missouri State University in 1990 with a degree in Elementary Education, Kirk and Karen were united in marriage on November 2, 1990.
The two traveled and visited many different states. Their creative talents were a perfect match, as Karen would write poetry to Kirk’s illustrations. Together, they had two girls, Kate and Madison.
Karen taught first grade at Bryan Elementary School for six years until she was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 1996. Karen stayed home with the girls and enjoyed their ball games, track meets, and choir contests. You could always find Karen working on a word search or sending someone one of her famous cards.
She never let her diagnosis define her. She faced every obstacle until the very end with grace and class, never bitter and always happy. She had the kindest demeanor and a heart of gold; her laugh was contagious and being around her made your day instantly better. Karen never complained, never asked why, and never gave up. She did not lose the battle. She was strong enough to know this is not her final place. She won the battle, thriving in Heaven. She lives on in spirit, while walking, skipping and running those streets of gold.
Karen was preceded in death by her mother, Donis Banks; father-in-law, Orville Sibley; and grandparents.
She is survived by her loving husband, Kirk, of twenty-six years; daughter, Kate and husband, Logan of Osceola, MO; daughter Madison and husband, Austin of Springfield, MO; father, Steve Banks of El Dorado Springs, MO; brother, Michael (Gina) Banks and children of Carthage, MO; mother-in-law, Peggy Sibley of El Dorado Springs, MO, brother-in-law, Nick (Tina) Sibley and children of Springfield, MO; brother-in-law, Kent (Kathy) Sibley of Keller, TX, brother-in-law, David (Rhonda) Sibley and children of El Dorado Springs; sister-in-law, Dana (Ronnie)Whitesell and children of El Dorado Springs; many uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.
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