Karen Hortin

   Karen Hortin, 73, of Carmi, passed away on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at Linda E. White Hospice House in Evansville, Indiana. She was born on March 30, 1951, in Heralds Prairie Township, Illinois. She was the daughter of Herbert Leon and Wanda Laura (Mills) Hale. Karen married Roger Hortin on June 23, 1990, and he survives. She was a retired Legal Secretary, working for the White County States Attorney Office in Carmi for 19 years. Karen loved spending time in the Smoky Mountains and was a wonderful cook. She kept the Hortin household well organized. Karen was a caring person and ministered to so many through card ministry. She was a dedicated caregiver down through the years to her family and was extremely kind hearted. If there was a need, she was there to respond and help.

   Karen was a dedicated member at Stewart Street Baptist Church where she played the piano and was the organist. She started playing at the age of 12 at Tennessee Bend Baptist Church in Herald, Illinois as pianist. Karen was a devoted pianist, devoted Bible School worker and loved singing and witnessing for the Lord, with the gospel singing group, Sweet Assurance. The light of her physical life were her nieces and nephews and her great nieces and great nephews. The light of her spiritual life was Jesus Christ, who was her Lord and Savior.

   In addition to her husband, Charles Roger Hortin, Karen is survived by her siblings, Sheila (Joe) Peacock, Colleen (Bruce) Masser, Ron Hale and Beth (Roger) Browning; nieces and nephews, Matthew (Marla) Peacock, Jennifer (David) Johnson, Dustin (Kara) Hale, Cheryl (Wes) Clemens and Tyler (Kali) Browning; a sister-in-law, Pam Hale; great nieces and nephews, Olivia Rose Peacock, Gracelyn Johnson, Cameron Johnson, Andrew Gillihan, Cassie (Derek) Zimmer, Jaxon Browning, Jenna Beth Browning, Josie Browning and Devin Hale; a sister-in-law, Mary Jane (Wellman) Lim; a niece, Jennifer (Shawn) Murphey; and a great nephew, Eli Murphey. Karen is preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Stanley Hale; and a sister-in-law, Becky Turner Hale.

  Funeral services for Karen Hortin will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, October 14, 2024, at Campbell Funeral Home in Carmi, with burial at Union Ridge Cemetery in New Haven, Illinois. Family and friends may visit from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 13, 2024, at Campbell Funeral Home in Carmi. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Karen's memory to Stewart Street Baptist Church and will be accepted at Campbell Funeral Home in Carmi.