Karen Ann Hill was born in Kansas City Missouri April 26, 1940. She was the 3rd oldest of 5 girls. Sadly, the family lost the second oldest, Shirley, in a house fire when the girls were very young.
The family moved to LaRussell, Missouri when Karen was around 10yrs of age. She went to Mt. Vernon Elementary where they resided until they moved to Springfield, Missouri. She attended Jarret Jr. High and Central High School graduating in 1958.
Karen developed a love for sewing during these school years and it remained with her throughout her life. She sewed for friends and family and instructing countless others to do so. In the 90’s She won many awards at the Ozark Empire Fair for her meticulous stitching. She sewed many doll outfits throughout her lifetime due to her extreme love and passion for dolls and doll collecting. Karen worked at Salsman’s Market in her late teens in Springfield, Mo. and always commented on how much she loved the family that owned and operated the store. Her father worked at Fadler’s fruit market in Spfd. and she developed a love for oranges. When he would bring them home she would eat an entire bowl in one sitting.
Her mother studied to be a nurse and was employed at The Chest Hospital in Mt. Vernon, Mo. Her parents relocated back to the Mt. Vernon area in the early 60’s and both Retired from the Chest Hospital, her father a Baker in the Kitchen and her Mother in nursing.
Karen married Thomas Erwin shortly after High School and they had 6 children. Karen also lost 6 children at birth burying 3 at Union Grove in Fair Grove Mo. Karen worked at Ma & Pa’s Cafe in Fair Grove, Mo. for her In-laws Tom and Alice Erwin. She was an excellent cook and would often comment on how much she learned how to cook and make ends meet through that experience!
Due to husband Thomas passing, in 1975 Karen had to teach herself to drive while she was busy raising 6 children.
Karen relocated to Ash Grove, Mo when she remarried in 1982 to the love of her life Bobby Gene Swinney. They had a 6 day romantic courtship and headed to Miami, Oklahoma with each of their youngest in the home at that time.
Karen worked many jobs to care for her children. She worked at the Locker Plant on the Hill in Fair Grove, Mo. for several years in the 70’s. She then worked at UpJohn doing home care for many clients throughout the 80’s.
She and Bobby owned the feed store, Quality Plus Feed in Miller, Mo in the mid-90’s. Karen was in the Movie, “A Place to Grow” during this time which was filmed partly at their feed store. She is the one dancing at the Bandstand!
Karen and Bobby both frequented and worked at Hood’s truck stop Restaurant doing almost every job they had also when Bobby was carrying Mail with Bois D’ Arc PO. Karen fit in as Hostess with many calling her the “Hat Lady” and that was her staple job until she retired.
Karen was known by many people for just being a very selfless and generous person. Karen’s love for sewing, dolls and picking out just the right outfit carried with her throughout her life. There are countless people who remember Karen for her faith, from the time she would read her Bible to her children and many neighbor children to family, friends and loved ones throughout her lifetime. Karen would tell you her faith became evident upon walking to their neighborhood church Grace Bible on St. Louis Street, in Springfield Mo. with her sisters when they were young. She never wavered in her faith in Jesus Christ and from that time on it sustained her throughout the trials and tribulations of her life into her passing.
Deceased are: 1st husband Thomas Erwin Jr; her Parents Vernon and Irene (Marsee’) Hill; sister’s Shirley Hill and Bonnie Hill; infant Son’s Norman Otto Erwin, Mark Matthew Erwin and Caleb Vernon Erwin; son Thomas Erwin III, and mother and father in-law Albert and Lylith Swinney.
Karen is survived by: Husband Bobby Swinney Ash Grove, MO; sons, Robert Erwin of Springfield, Mo. Jesse Erwin of Bois D’ Arc, Mo. Lucian Erwin of Kansas City, Mo.; daughters, Shirley Erwin Zellemeyer. (Gene Zellemeyer)
Sarah Erwin Chapman (Jerry Chapman); step-daughter Renee’ Swinney Bruffey (Bobby Bruffey) Ash Grove Mo.; step-Son Don Swinney, Buffalo Mo; grandchildren: 21;her Sisters: Sandra Hill Wheeler (Larry Wheeler)Jewell Hill White (Steve Pierson ); brother-in-law Cecil Swinney (Darlene).
A celebration of Karen’s life will be at 1 pm, Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at Greenlawn Funeral Home South with visitation from 12pm- 1pm. Interment will follow in John’s Chapel Cemetery, Ash Grove, MO