October 14, 2015

Karen Lou Epps, age 72, a resident of rural Fulton, Kan., died Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015, at her home. She was born Oct. 21, 1942, in Fort Scott, Kan., the daughter of Martin Heine Atkins and Lou Sample Atkins.
She graduated from Fort Scott High School with the class of 1960. She attended nursing school at the University of Kansas, graduating with her RN degree in 1965.
She married Jim Epps on July 9, 1966, in Fort Scott. She worked part time at the Newman Young Clinic while raising their two girls. She also handled office duties for the family business, Epps Seed Company. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, serving as an elder and deacon. She was also a treasurer of the Hack Memorial Fund. She served on the board for the Beacon, volunteered for the Red Cross, and was a member of the P.E.O. She loved her faithful dog “Lucky”. Her greatest pleasure was watching and supporting all the activities of her grandchildren. She was a loving, faithful wife and cherished mother and grandmother.
Survivors include her husband, Jim, of the home; two daughters, Lisa Epps, Kansas City, Mo., and Lori Patterson and husband, Sam, Leawood, Kan.; two grandchildren, Isaac and Abigail Patterson; and a brother, Kent Atkins and wife Alison, Wilmington, N.C.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Rev. Jared Witt conducted funeral services Friday, Oct. 9, at the First Presbyterian Church. Cremation followed. Memorials are suggested to the Beacon, and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.