Karen Sue Stephen (McElhiney) passed away on January 8, 2020. She was born on October 1, 1949 in Wichita, KS. Karen was an amazing woman that will be missed by many. She was an extremely hard worker, sometimes working 3 jobs to take care of her 3 children, Jim, Michelle, and Rebekah. She was kind, honest, loyal, outgoing, funny, and so much more. She loved the outdoors and enjoyed things like taking care of her flower garden, fishing, and camping. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and even played a large role in raising a few of them. Karen was the kind of person that would always be there for you. She didn't judge. She cared about everybody she knew as if they were family. She had many struggles in life, but always kept her head up and powered through them. Teaching her kids and grandkids to be strong and resilient by the example she set.
Karen was preceded in death by her mother, Nina Sue Gabbert; father, Odell McElhiney; brother, Richard McElhiney; nephew Christopher McElhiney; and great granddaughter, Aubrey Miller. She is survived by brother Tommy McElhiney and wife, Joyce; sister, Barbara Adams; three children... son James Ewertz, and Charity Garancoski; daughter Michelle Sprout, and husband Lawrence; daughter Rebekah McCord, and husband James; eight grandchildren... Zachary Miller, Samantha Beall, Jesseca Loughry, Kelsi Beall, Laura Ewertz, Colby Ewertz, and Ryli Hudnall; one great grandchild, Aspyn Miller; neices Stephanie Mullins, Libby Cameron, and Jennifer Henderson; nephew, Donny McElhiney; several cousins and many friends. Services for Karen will be Friday January 10, 2020 at 10:00 at Culbertson-Smith Mortuary, 115 S. Seneca, Wichita, KS.