Karen N. "Davis" Bishop

Karen N. (Davis) Bishop of Marion, beloved wife, mother, Gma, GG, sister, aunt, and friend, left this world for her heavenly home on Friday, February 20, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.

Karen was born on November 17, 1943 in Albert, WV, the coal-miner's daughter of Arlie C. and Alma Davis. After graduating from high school where she led the marching band as a majorette, she left small-town life for the big city of Washington, DC, where she was recruited by and worked for the FBI.

It was in DC that she met her Navy man, Gene R. Bishop, and they married September 21, 1963. They enjoyed over 60 years together until his passing on November 11, 2023.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents; husband; her youngest daughter Heather Clixby and favorite son-in-law Terry Clixby; granddaughter Sarah Doares; and the best friend anyone could ask for of over 50 years, Anne Truex.

Left to cherish her memory (and fight over her stuff) are daughters: Monnette (Jimmie) Cunningham of Morral, Stephanie (Rodney) Gayheart of Caledonia, and Angie (Vince) Walters of Marion; brother Arlie C. (Kathryn) Davis of Hambleton, WV; also surviving are grandchildren: Andrew (Suzannah) Cunningham, Jessie (Langley Flowers) Cunningham, Nick (Trisha) Cunningham and Emily Spencer; and great-grandchildren: Kalayah Spencer, Henry Cunningham, Trihan Cunningham and Baby Cunningham due in June. As well as her "honorary son" Todd Truex of Vermont.

Karen and her BFF Anne shared many adventures together over the years. One of the most memorable was an exciting trip to New York, where they discovered black and white cookies, following shady characters into a building to buy fake designer purses, and appearing in the outside Today show audience, making it on camera. She also was a connoisseur of all things ice cream; she knew all the best ice cream shops in every state she visited – one of her favorite sayings was, "It's never too cold for ice cream."

Karen was a 59+-year member of Grace Baptist Church in Marion. She served in many capacities there over the years, including Monday-morning cleaning crew, greeter, Ladies' Group officer, church decorator, and Sunday School teacher. Her favorite job by far was as Cookie Lady at Vacation Bible School every summer. For over 25 years she plated up cookies and poured juice for the hundreds of children that attended through the years.

She was also a strong prayer warrior and enjoyed reading her Bible. Karen was always about the Lord's work; even in the last two weeks of her life while recovering from a stroke, she was telling the nursing assistant at the rehab center about Jesus and inviting him to church.

Visitation will be Thursday, February 26, 2026 at Grace Baptist Church, 1560 Marion-Marysville Rd, Marion, OH from 5PM to 7PM; funeral service will be Friday at the church at 11AM; burial will follow at Frame Cemetery in Meeker.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Missions at Grace Baptist Church, 1560 Marion Marysville Rd., Marion.

The Snyder Funeral Homes are honored to serve the Bishop family; condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting www.SnyderFuneralHomes.com