Photo courtesy of Heaton-Bowman-Smith & Sidenfaden Chapel - Saint Joseph
Aug 22, 1952 - Nov 1, 2023
Just wanted to tell everyone I’m so very sorry to hear about Karen. I did her hair for years. Loved her like a sister she was a fabulous person. I did not see this till after she passed or I would’ve been to the funeral. I am so so sorry again for your loss Lorie Huff.
Lorie Huff
November 13, 2023 | Savannah, MO | Friend
Would like to say my thoughts and prayers are with you all at this time of sadness. Love you all
Sue Langley
November 06, 2023 | St Joseph, MO | Friend
Will always be a place in my heart. Loved you much. Wish I had been there more
Sue Frump
November 06, 2023 | Elwood, KS | Family
My prayers are with you all.
Keysha Myers
November 03, 2023 | Saint Joseph, MO
Jackie slavin
November 03, 2023 | St Joseph, MO | Friend
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Priscilla flanagan Moses
November 02, 2023 | Stanfield, OR | Family
So sorry to hear this
Biill Hafley
November 02, 2023 | St Joseph, MO | Classmate
I remember her from Lafayette. Always very nice and pleasant to be around.
Carol Ezzell Scott
November 02, 2023 | Friend
So sorry for the family a very nice lady
Pam Talbott
November 02, 2023 | Saint Joseph, MO
Karen Kay (Flanagan) Combs, 71, of St. Joseph, Missouri passed away on November 1, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on August 22, 1952, in St. Joseph, Missouri to Edward Theodore and Lucy Modena (Fobair) Flanagan.
She graduated from Lafayette High School in 1970, studied at Platt-Gard Business College, worked for Heartland Health for 17 years, and retired from Occupational Health Services after over 15 years. She enjoyed reading, listening to audio books, watching Charmed, Golden Girls, CSI, and other mystery shows. She enjoyed traveling when she could; she just celebrated her birthday in New Orleans with her daughter, Amy. She is, was, and always will be the guilt trip queen… with nice apparel (and a great sense of humor).
Karen married the love of her life, Craig Combs in 1986. He preceded her in death in 2012.
Most of all, she loved spending time with her grandkids, who lovingly called her Memo (mee-mo) and Mama (maw-maw). Her home was a fun place to be; a home away from home, especially when one of her grandkids needed time away from a sibling. She enjoyed taking them to the movies and watching their sports games and concerts. She always had Little Debbie’s and Homemade Vanilla Blue Bunny ice cream for Drake; made baked beans for dinners for Landon; and she would take McDonald’s to Nathan for his birthdays. Olivia enjoyed their special time watching Ghost Hunters. Zoey says that going to grandma’s was always the best because she made everything better just by being there and talking to her. Logan says that he loved grandma reading to him while he built something for her with blocks or legos. These are just a few of the many things she did to make her grandkids feel special.
Karen was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Betty Lou Flanagan; brother, John Flanagan; granddaughter, Piper Keith; and niece, Sheridale Haynes.
She is survived by her brother, Carl Flanagan (Christine); children, Amy Cloud (Galen), Angie Losson (Brett), Justin Combs (Angela), and Andrea Keith (Aaron); grandchildren, Olivia, Zoey, Logan, and Grayson Keith, Camden (Grace) and Drake Losson, and Nathan and Landon Combs; great-granddaughter, London Losson; nieces, Pearl Larson (Jeremy), Loriann Ferguson, and Meribeth Keith; nephews, Phillip Flanagan, Jeff Flanagan, and John Flanagan; sisters-in-law, Perlita Donaghy (George), and Dorothy Flanagan; and numerous cousins and lifelong friends.
Karen was a mother of few, grandmother of many, and friend to all. Every single one of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchild, nieces and nephews, held a very special place in her heart. We all knew that she loved us to the moon and back and to infinity and beyond. She will forever be in our memories and our hearts.
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