Karen Smith Obituary
Karen Sue Smith
April 30, 1953-August 31, 2025
Karen Sue Smith passed peacefully at 5:20pm on August 31, 2025 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, IN.
She was born Karen Sue Houston on April 30, 1953 in Mishawaka, In, the daughter of Norma Jean (Fox) Houston and Kenneth Colfax Houston. She was raised and went to school in Granger and was a 1971 graduate of Penn High School. She attended Ozark Bible College as well as Memorial and Ivy Tech nursing schools.
She lived most of her life in Marshall County working as an LPN for much of it. Karen loved caring for others. She showed this in her personal life and as a nurse in long term care facilities for the elderly. She had a gift for caring. It was upbeat and paired with a quirky sense of humor that was all her own. If you knew her, you would never forget her flair for life.
She loved to knit, crochet, study the Bible, garden and make meals for others. She was a devout Christian and attended the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Plymouth for many years.
Karen and Michael William Smith were married on May 21, 1988. She made a home with him in LaPaz and was beloved by all those that knew and visited her.
Left to cherish the memories of Karen include her spouse, brothers, Joseph S. Houston of LaPaz, Kenneth S. Houston(LuAnn) of Seymour, IN., sisters, Marianne Kay Houston of Omaha, NE., Amy L Walton of Rochester, IN., and Gail F. Houston of Plymouth, IN. also surviving are great nieces Chrissy Taylor of Topeka, KS, Dawn Smith of Omaha, Haylie Toro of Rochester and Ashley Szymanski of Plymouth and nephews Jonathan Walton of Carmel, Tyler Walton of Rochester. Her mother-in-law Linda Smith and brother-in-law, Jeffery G. Smith of Plymouth also survive.
Preceding her in death are her parents and a brother, Michael L. Houston.
Arrangements are being entrusted to Haverstock Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 602 Maple Ave., LaPorte, IN. The family has chosen cremation with a Celebration of Life to take place at a later date.
Online condolences may be made at www.haverstockfuneralhome.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
602 Maple Avenue, La Porte, IN 46350
People and places connected with Karen
Recent Obituaries
Recent Obituaries
Recent Obituaries
Memories and Condolences
for Karen Smith
Tell your own story about Karen
Memories and condolences can be left on the obituary at the funeral home website.
How you can show support
Make a Donation
in Karen Smith's name
How to support Karen's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor Karen Smith's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
