Karen Ann LeVelle Combs

Karen Ann LeVelle Combs, beloved wife and mother, age 82, was born to the late Samuel Issac LeVelle and Frances Jeanette Morris LeVelle on October 12, 1941, in Monongah, West Virginia (a true coal miner’s daughter). Karen’s father was diagnosed with a debilitating form of arthritis and the family was advised to move to a dryer environment. At the age of 8, she and her family moved to Tucson Arizona. Arizona is where she eventually met the love of her life, Karl L. Combs (63 years of marriage). Karl was serving in the United States Army at Fort Huachuca. After Karl’s enlistment, they moved back to Karl’s family farm in Quincy Kentucky. Karl began college to become a teacher while Karen learned the art of southern cooking/farming and eventually learned to be a mother surrounded by a loving family that accepted and embraced her as if she were their own. After Karl’s graduation, he became a teacher for Greenup County Kentucky. A few years later, Karl would accept a teaching position in Palm Beach County Florida and the family made the move down south. Her in-laws were so distraught over the departure of the family, they sold their farm and followed the family to Florida. Karen spent most of her adult life working for Laser Color Laboratories/Kodak Corporation as a color specialist in West Palm Beach Florida. She was sought after for her precise work. Karen loved her profession but never put her job above her family, family was always first! Karen and Karl moved to Maryville Tennessee in 2005 to enjoy their retirement in the mountains. The mountains were their true home. Karl passed on June 26, 2020, Karen spent the rest of her days living with her daughter and son-in-law in Walland Tennessee. She was preceded in death by her son, Carl; father, Samuel; sister, Donna; nephew, John; niece, Linda; mother, Frances; husband, Karl. Karen is survived by her son, Christopher (Michelle) son, Michael (Zena); daughter, Cynthia (Steve); six grandchildren, Crystal (Tony), Leilani (Yea-Hung), Christopher, Trevor, Mayumi (Zion), Hannah; six great-grandchildren, Ethan, Dylan, Vivian, Anthony, Deric, Garrett; one niece, Brenda (Donald). Her final resting place will be at Greene Cemetery in St. Paul Kentucky 2024.