
Karen Tarwater was born April 18, 1969, in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Ned H and Lana L Rogers (Lenoir.) She passed away Sunday, April 7 at St. Francis hospital. Karen grew up in Tulsa where she graduated from Memorial High School in 1987. As a child she enjoyed playing the violin, playing with friends and going on vacations with her family and extended family. Karen got her Associates degree in Fashion Merchandising from TJC while she worked in sales at Renberg's department store. Karen and Scott met in 1987 and were married in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, in 1993. Her father was at the ceremony and was proud of his daughter. Karen moved to Conway, Arkansas while Scott was in the Air Force and got her RN degree from The Baptist School of Nursing in 2000. She worked as an RN for many years, also doing home health and loved working with the elderly. As a child Karen worked at a retirement center as a Candy Striper, she enjoyed helping people.
Karen and Scott had Hannah Nicole on June 25, 2004. They soon moved back to Jenks where Hannah grew up going to Jenks Public Schools. As young children Hannah and cousins Kobey and Alec played together at great grandmas and went to First United Methodist together. She is the apple of her parents’ eye.
Karen was preceded in death by her parents, Ned and Lana Rogers, grandparents Eldon and Mary Rogers and grandparents John and Betty Lenoir, her uncle Johnny, her aunt Nanny and her cousin Peter. She is survived by daughter Hannah, ex-husband Scott, brother Dan and sister in law Cami, nephews Kobey and Alec. She is also survived by cousin Shan Rains and his family, her uncle Sonny Rains and her aunt Janice Nicklas and cousin Kari Nicklas. She also had several second cousins as part of the extended family.
In lieu of flowers please consider donating to Animal Aid or Meals on Wheels.
Hannah, I will always be here for you and hope you will let me help you through this.. love kelly
Kelly thies
Karen was my best friend , she helped me through the death of my brother who was also one of her best friends. I hope they are together now in heaven and taking care of each other ! I miss her terribly, and hope she knows I will help Hannah as much as I can. her passing leaves a hole in my heart and life. I love you Karen and will miss you always, Kelly Thies
Kelly thies
Karen was the best friend a girl could have in high school. We rode to school together, worked at Cricket Alley at the mall together and shared so many adventures and memories. Sunday brunch with her grandparents at Furrs, laughing, dancing, cruising Riverside, note passing, our first frat party (thanks again Dan! 🎉). We were glued at the hip junior year. I even helped Lana pick out Karen’s first car (a British racing green Triumph TR7 with green and black plaid interior if I remember correctly). They were family to me. Karen and I did our best to stay in touch after I moved to California the summer before our senior year, to see each other when I came to visit family, and call or message each other. I wish I had gotten to give her one more hug and tell her how much she will always mean to me. I love you always and forever Karen. Tell your parents and grandparents that I say hello and send my love. One day in heaven I’ll bring the pepperoni pizza and video, you bring the hot rollers and magazines and we will have a sleepover. See you when I get there. 💛
Hillary Hamilton