Karen J. Hornaday was a registered nurse, servant of God and a loving mother who considered her four children His greatest gift to her.

On March 6, 2009, she returned to the Lord after a brief bout with cancer. She was 65.

Karen was born August 7, 1943, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. There she was raised until her family moved to Garden Grove, California, she attended Mater Dei High School in nearby Santa Ana. She later returned to Milwaukee before moving to Fordyce, Arkansas in November 1963.

Karen was a non-denominational Christian who enjoyed studying the Bible. Her many talents included singing, cake baking, poetry and other forms of writing- and she collected sailing ships, lighthouses, cows and teddy bears. Her desire to aid others in their time of need led her to earn an Associate Degree in nursing at the University of Arkansas at Monticello in 1984. She went on to serve with Chicot Memorial Hospital, Jefferson Regional Medical Center and provided home health services for Drew Memorial Hospital and Ashley County Medical Center before retiring in 2000. Though she will be greatly missed, her spirit lives still – and forever more.

Karen was preceded in passing by parents Ed and Louise Boyle and a sister, Joanne Davis. Survivors include sons Bill W. Hornaday of Bryant; Daniel A. Hornaday(Vickie) of Jefferson and Steven J. Hornaday(Christy) of Maumelle; daughter Lori J. Freeman(Robby) of Crossett; brother Ed Boyle of Muskego, Wisconsin; sister Eileen Dunst(Al) of Grand Rapids, Michigan; four grandsons and two granddaughters. She also has eleven nieces and nephews, plus a host of relatives and friends.

The family expresses its gratitude to the doctors and nurses at St. Vincent Infirmary Medical Center – particularly the staff at 3 North – to St. Vincent Family Clinic, Dr. Michael Stout, Hospice Angels, Arkansas Hospice and to her caregiver, Sherry Bowers.

A memorial service will take place at 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 9, 2009 at Dial & Dudley Funeral Home 4212 Hwy 5N in Bryant. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee, 38105. Friends are invited to sign an online guestbook at dialanddudleyfuneralhome.com.