Karen Mae Rutledge

Karen Mae (Savery) Rutledge, 81, of Mountain Home, Arkansas, passed away peacefully at the Hospice of the Ozarks on January 2, 2024.

Karen was born on February 7, 1942 in Council Bluffs, Iowa, the daughter of Lyle and Marie Savery. She married Norman Rutledge on April 28, 1942 in Moorhead, Iowa. She lived in Iowa most of her life and moved to Arkansas with her husband in 1987 when they purchased and owned Crystal Cove Resort.

Karen grew up on a farm in Moorhead, Iowa, and after high school she moved to Omaha, Nebraska, to attend a Business College where she met her husband, Norm. In 1971 they moved to Boone, Iowa, and she worked at Rolfes and then finally as a secretary to the Division Head of the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad before moving to Arkansas.

She was an active and creative person and had a kind personality which friends and strangers gravitated to. Karen’s interests included dancing, swimming, painting, crocheting, quilting, embroidering and knitting. She made intricate personal afghans for all of her children and grandchildren which they cherish greatly.

Karen is survived by her husband, Norm of Mountain Home, Arkansas; daughters, Pam Strumpfer of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Deb (Bill) Eatock of Boone, Iowa; son Jeff Rutledge of Conroe, Texas; five grandchildren, Josh (Tiffany Gibson) of Boone, Iowa; Tyler (Tabitha) Eatock of Slater, Iowa, Abby (Tony) Kinyon, Justin (Morgan) Strumpfer of Evansville, Indiana and Jordan Strumpfer of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and nine great-grandchildren. She is also survived by one sister, Lorna Thogerson of Texas, and one brother, Gary (Terri) Savery of Iowa.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lyle and Marie (McHugh) Savery; and sister, JoAnn Durig.

A private service will be held in Onawa, Iowa at a later date.

Arrangements are by Kirby and Family Funeral and Cremation Services - Mountain Home, Arkansas. Visit an online obituary and guestbook at www.kirbyandfamily.com .