Pawnee — Karen Louise Walker, 83, of Pawnee, Illinois, died Monday, May 12, 2025, at her home, after a two-year battle with cancer. Karen was born Sept. 28, 1941, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, the daughter of Gilbert H. and Gladys N. Pierce Boren. She married John H. Walker on Aug. 3, 1963, at St. Vincent Catholic Church in Cape Girardeau. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Karen was a member of the Church of the Little Flower in Springfield. She was a 1959 graduate of Cheyenne High School in Wolf Lake, Illinois. She loved cooking and traveling with John to Rome, Italy, Germany, the Dakotas and the Badlands. Karen loved cats and would often feed the neighborhood strays. She was a St. Louis Cardinals fan and loved to see them play in St. Louis. Every Wednesday night, she went to Motorheads to dance in her high-heeled shoes. She was a secretary at American Life Insurance Co. in St. Louis, a cook at St. Joseph's School in Scott City, Missouri, and a beautician.

Karen is survived by her husband, John, of Pawnee; three sons, John David Walker of Springfield, Patrick J. (wife, Karen) Walker of St. Charles, Missouri, and Gary B. Walker of Pawnee; one daughter, Jennifer K. (husband, Chris) Locke of Collierville, Tennessee; six grandchildren, Bonnie, Jessica, Christopher, Jonah, Nicholas and Michael; one brother, Gilbert H. (wife, Kay) Boren, of McClure, Illinois; one niece and one nephew.

Karen's family will meet friends from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the funeral Mass at noon, Thursday, May 15, 2025, at the Church of the Little Flower in Springfield, with Rev. Al Kemme officiating. A ceremony will be held at Lindsey Cemetery in McClure, Illinois, at a later date.

Memorials honoring Karen may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Curry Funeral Home in Pawnee is serving the family of Karen Walker. Online condolences may be expressed at www.curryfh.com.