Karen Woods

Karen Gay (Edwards) Woods- beloved wife, mother,grandmother, sister, and friend- passed away in Dallas on February 25, 2024. She was born March 6, 1953 in Corpus Christi, Texas to Wilbur Arthur “W.A.” Edwards, Jr. and Wilda “Evelyn” (Shipper) Edwards, the middle of their three children. Karen tragically lost her father in a roadside accident at the age of four. She was treasured by her paternal grandparents, Wilbur Arthur Edwards, Sr. and Chrystal Phelps Edwards as well as Karen’s maternal grandmother Nora Estelle (Milner) Shipper and her husband William “Daddy Bill” Thomas Scott.

Karen’s mother Evelyn married a gentle giant, Frederick “Freddie” Philip Hahn in 1962, becoming a beloved daddy to Karen and her siblings. Freddie loved them as his own until his death at the hands of a drunk driver in 1971, an accident which Karen miraculously survived. 

Raised in the small town of Ingleside where her family had deep roots, she met a newcomer, Tyson Woods in 8th grade. He claims that it was love at first sight. The high school sweethearts graduated in the 1971 class of Ingleside High School. Karen attended Southwest Texas State University. Tyson and Karen married in 1978. Although they spent the entirety of their marriage in Dallas, Karen loved attending class reunions andmaintaining relationships with the people and places so significant to her childhood. Additionally, Karen was enfolded into the Woods family and enjoyed many holidays and trips spanning decades. 

Daughters, Brooke and Mallory were born in 1979 and 1981 respectively, and raised in a home where they always knew how treasured and loved they were. Karen had no greater joy than motherhood. She loved to read and sing nursery rhymes, sew homemade Halloween costumes, plan birthday parties, and shop for the perfect dress. She made everything special. God grew her family to include two treasured sons-in-law and blessed her with two loving grandsons and a beautiful granddaughter. 

Karen’s faith in Christ was secure and straightforward. It was formed in her baptism within the Church of Christ during her youth and lived out in her 40+ years of devoted membership atCentral Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Dallas. God’s hand on her life was evident through the personal losses she endured as a girl as well as the many health challenges she faced in adulthood, without bitterness or hopelessness. When diagnosed with a large meningioma in 2005, the treatment of which required two brain surgeries followed by radiation, she faced the challenge with courage, grace, and the assurance that God was the Author of her days. Karen believed that the Lord had gifted her talented medical team with the skills necessary to help her live the next eighteen “bonus” years. Those years included being a Mamu to her beloved grandchildren, traveling to Europe for the first and only time, deepening friendships, and enjoying the fruits of an enduring marriage. 

As the long-term effects of the brain surgeries weakened Karen’s physical health and made everyday life more and more challenging, her sharp mind and memory remained in tact and she never lost her ability to both give and receive love from others. Tyson was the devoted to loving and caring for Karen until she took her final breath. Her family and friends consider Karen’s life, and ultimately her passing, a testimony to the miraculous power of God to bring life from death. Karen was beautiful inside and out and created beauty wherever she went, but her life proved the adage that “pretty is as pretty does.” She used her many talents and meticulous eye for detail to serve others. No task was beneath her and she was happiest out of the spotlight, content to let others shine. She delighted in shopping for just the right gift and considered the color coordinated gift wrap and elaborate bows an extension of the gift itself. Karen took her time because she cared about the details and she cared about people. She made everything special. Karen’s family considers her legacy to be one of small acts done with great love and intention. 

Karen is survived by her husband, William Tyson Woods, Jr. her daughters Brooke McCollum (Lee) and Mallory Jacob (Nick), her grandchildren Henry and Mills McCollum and Catherine Jacob, her brother Gary Edwards and sister Leah Lockhart(Delano), aunt, Jan (Edward’s) Murphy, nieces and nephews Winter Edwards, Cody Edwards (Lisha), Lindsey Anderson (Jason), Jensen Lockhart (Beth), Cameron Lockhart (Ashley), many great nieces, nephews,cousins, and her husband’s family. 

Karen’s family is especially grateful to Loice Ogola, who cared for her in the last six months of her life with the devotion of a loving daughter. 

A public visitation will take place at Charlie Marshall Funeral Home in Aransas Pass on February 28, 2024 from 11:00-12:00. Graveside funeral and burial will follow immediately in her family plot at Prairie View Cemetery.A Celebration of Life will take place at Central Commons at 4711 Westside Drive in Dallas on March 2, 2024 at 1:00 with reception to follow. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Karen’s memory to Juliette Fowler Communities at 1234 Abrams Road, Dallas 75214.