Karen Yvonne (Sanders) Conley, 64 of Mtn. Grove, MO passed away on Thursday, July 28, 2011 at her home. She was born in Ava, MO on August 5th, 1946 the daughter of Loren and Beulah (Vaughn) Sanders.

She lived down by Turkey Creek and attended Rock House school until her 6 ^th grade year when the country schools all merged into the Ava School system. Karen's childhood was happy and she enjoyed working and playing with her siblings Eddie, Steve and Joann.

Karen left home, married and had three children, Doug, Kitty and Joe. They all brought her great joy and she raised them to love God, family and country just as she did.

After raising her children for many years, she started working for the Mansfield school system and then the Mountain Grove school system, where she held several different positions until her retirement in 2009.

Karen lived and traveled in many places from coast to coast, but the main three places she lived were Ava, Macomb and Mountain Grove, MO. She always said that "There wasn't any place quite like the Ozarks," and "The Ozarks will always be HOME to me." After retirement, Karen began her journey with cancer and went through two years of living with it before going on to her heavenly home.

Karen was preceded in death by her mother, Beulah Vaughn Sanders-Henley; her son, Doug Henley-Conley and her brother, Steve Sanders. She is survived by her father, Loren Sanders of Davenport, Iowa; husband, Bill Conley of the home; her daughter, Katherine Lane and husband, Jim of Mtn. Grove, MO; her son, Joe Conley and wife, Melissa of Ava, MO; her granddaughters, Alissa Lane and Shanna Lane of Mtn. Grove, MO; her brother, Eddie Sanders and wife, Sharon of Ava, MO and her sister, Joann Welker and husband, Rod of Ava, MO.

Karen was a loving Wife, Mother, Grandmother and Friend; always putting the needs of everyone else before her own (A true Giver). She leaves many fond memories in the hearts of her loved ones and many wonderful family members and friends who will all miss her dearly.

"Celebration of Life" was her daily theme to live by. She wanted to have fun and celebrate at every opportunity and enjoy each day of life to the fullest.

Her wishes are that we would not be sad for her because she knew where she would be going when this body stopped breathing and her hope was that all of her loved ones would come to know Jesus and meet her in heaven someday.