Karmen Hopkins, MD, Family Practice

Karmen Hopkins, 68, of Little Rock, Arkansas, passed away on January 30, 2026, after a courageous battle with ovarian cancer. She was born on March 27, 1957, in Lubbock, Texas, to Denzel and Floy Hopkins, both of whom preceded her in death.

Karmen grew up in Lubbock, where she distinguished herself academically from a young age and developed an early love of learning, poetry, and service. She was active in Girl Scouts and the Explorer Post. She committed herself to studies and graduated from Lubbock High School, Austin College and earned her medical degree from Texas Tech Medical School in 1983. For Karmen, pursuing a career as a physician was motivated by a sense of dedication and purpose beyond a typical occupational decision.

She spent 17 years serving patients at St. Vincent Family Clinic, where she also served as the medical director of St. Vincent Infirmary Medical Center Health Clinic East. She later worked with the VA and concluded her medical career with a Social Security Disability determination, Department of Health and Human Services. Throughout her years of practice, she was most proud not of titles or positions, but of the many people she helped. To her family, she was always "the doctor," offering wisdom, calm reassurance, and careful listening whenever it was needed.

At the heart of Karmen's life was her deep love for family. She was the devoted partner of Donna Lynn Gullette for 20 years, the great love of her life, with whom she shared companionship, adventure, and joy. Together, they traveled widely in recent years, exploring the world alongside Karmen's sister, Lovetta Gurley, and her cousin Pam Scott, through Road Scholar programs—experiences that brought her immense happiness and fulfillment.

Karmen was the loving mother of Claire Rountree and cherished mother-in-law to Michael Rountree. She found extraordinary joy in being "Mimi" to her granddaughter, Quinn Rountree, whose presence was a constant source of light and pride.

She is survived by her sister Lovetta Gurley; and by her seven nieces and nephews, several great nieces and nephews, for whom she was not only an aunt, but a special older sister—offering guidance, perspective, and steady encouragement throughout their lives. She also leaves behind a wide circle of chosen family and lifelong friends, including Donna's mother Sarah H. Gullette, David Gullette, Chuck Gullette, Dave Gullette, Maraya Gates, Ellen Davidson, Don Hicks, Bo O'Dell, Starr Mitchell and George West, Barbara Hanley, and Jean and Jay McSweeney, who were deeply shaped by her friendship and care.
Karmen was preceded in death by her parents, Denzel and Floy Hopkins; her sister Lyndell Edgemon; her brother-in-law Charles Edgemon; and her brother-in-law Dan Gurley.

An avid reader and gifted poet, Karmen's home was filled with books—stacked, shelved, and always within reach. She especially loved poetry and wrote many poems herself, using words to reflect, process, and connect. Those who knew her well knew her as wise, kind, and deeply attentive. She listened with intention, treated others with respect, and had a way of making people feel truly heard.
In family life, Karmen occupied a unique and treasured role—the youngest sister to her siblings, yet the "older sister" presence to her nieces and nephews: steady, thoughtful, and quietly strong. Her values of family, kindness, perseverance, and generosity were not loudly proclaimed, but consistently lived.
Some of the defining joys of her life were the birth of her daughter Claire, the arrival of her granddaughter Quinny, and finding enduring love and partnership with Donna. Even in the face of illness, Karmen met life with courage, grace, and an unwavering concern for others.

Karmen Hopkins will be remembered for her wisdom, compassion, devotion to healing, and ability to make people feel seen and valued. Her legacy lives on in the lives she touched, the family she loved so well, and the countless patients and friends who were better for having known her.

In lieu of Flowers, if desired, donations to American Civil Liberties Union, Human Rights Campaign Fund, Lamda Legal Defense & Education Fund, The Nature Conservancy and/or Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance.
She will be deeply missed and forever loved.