Karen Kay Ratliff Justice

Karen Kay Ratliff Justice, passed away on Sunday, November 13, 2022, at Markey Cancer Center in Lexington, KY. She was born in Pikeville, KY, on June 14, 1950, the daughter of LaVern and Dale Ratliff.
Karen attended school at Elkhorn City where she graduated as Salutatorian and was a drum majorette at her high school. It was during those years she met her future sweetheart and loving husband of 53 years, Gary Justice. She attended the University of KY and Pikeville College, where she obtained a major in English and a minor in French. She was a teacher before having children and then became a substitute teacher later in her life. She was also a member of the Pikeville United Methodist Church.
Karen was the picture of selflessness, especially as a mother (and later as a grandmother): nurturing and dedicated to her children, to the exclusion of her own interests. She loved taking care not only of her own three children, but also an array of their friends who always found themselves at her house- many of whom referred to her as their "second mother."
Karen was considered by those that knew her as "The World's Best Cook" - she even had her own radio show, Cooking with Karen- and she used these talents to enrich the lives of everyone she met. If you were lucky enough to have had a meal at Lakeview Drive, you would almost certainly encounter all of the following: 1) a painfully long pre-dinner period where you were tortured by the wonderful aromas coming from the kitchen; 2) an expertly cooked traditional southern meal with no less than five side dishes; and 3) a loving, welcoming cook who would insist that you have seconds (or thirds) – and that was before the dessert course. It was truly a one of a kind experience.
While she was a woman of many talents, she took the most pride in role as "Mimi" to her precious grandchildren. She always made time for her grandkids and would not hesitate for a second when called upon to care for them- whether that meant watching kids in the house in Pikeville, attending a sporting event or making the trip west on the Mountain Parkway for some long-distance babysitting.
In addition to her husband, Gary Justice, she is survived by her sister Dina Mattingly (Gary), sister-in-law Eleanor Ratliff; sons Brock Justice (Lara), Brandt Justice (Tiffany), daughter Braye Justice Rueff (Matt); Aunt (but like a second mother) Dolores Hounshell (Ken); grandchildren Brodie Justice, Justice and Joseph Rueff, Lily Kay and Rose Justice; step-grandchildren, Brady Blackburn and Bella Blackburn; nieces and nephews, Todd, Nikki and Chad Ratliff, Clay Leavell, Seth, Camron, and Spencer Mattingly as well as Kerri Justice Conley, Colby Justice and Hannah Justice; and cousins, Joey Sanders, Gabriel Belcher and Mark Reed.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Dale and LaVern Ratliff as well as mother and father-in-law, Jean and Perry Justice; brother, Barry Michael Ratliff; uncles Jackie and Otto Belcher; niece Carol Barr; and brother in law, Richard Justice.
Visitation will be held at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, November 16, 2022 at J.W. Call Funeral Home Chapel in Pikeville, Ky.
Funeral Services will be 1:00 pm Thursday, November 17,2022 at Pikeville United Methodist Church, 107 Main St, Pikeville KY. Burial will follow.
If you would like to make a donation in honor of Karen Justice please go to: Markey Cancer Center: https://ukmarkey.org/honor-a-loved-one/; or Pikeville's First United Methodist Church.