Obituary for Glenda “Karen” Hollingsworth

Glenda “Karen” Hollingsworth

May 19, 1949 – July 8, 2017

Glenda Karen Hollingsworth, 68, went to be with the lord on Saturday morning, July 8th in Ponca City.
A family and friends viewing will be held on Thursday, July 13th at Grace Memorial Chapel from 12:00 noon until 8:00 p.m. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 15th at Grace Memorial Chapel starting at 2:00 p.m.

Karen was born on May 19, 1949 in Breckenridge, Texas and raised by her parents, Delmar and Glenda McKinney. Karen had an older sister Sharon two brothers, Mo McKinney and Bo McKinney. Karen attended school in Odessa, Texas. She met Jerry Hollingsworth in 1972. They were married on April 21, 1973 and she remained a devoted wife to him until the end of her life. Together they built a life and raised their three sons, Jimmy, David, and Kenny. Karen was an avid antiques collector. Jerry tells of the great memories he has going antique shopping together. He loved going antiquing with his dear wife. She also enjoyed crafting and decorating their home. Karen had a love of clocks and hung them throughout their home. Her boys say the chiming would start at one end of the house and continue to the other, taking almost eight full minutes. She loved the sound of her beautiful chimes. Karen worked outside of the home as a cashier in a retail location and was also a member of management. She spent her time in the flower beds and no one has ever had a greener thumb. Anything Karen touched would flourish. She had a way with plants that seemed magical to those around her. Throughout Karen’s life, she had a great love of dogs. Nobody has ever spoiled a dog more than Karen spoiled Oscar. There were many special dogs in her life, but none touched her heart quite like he did. Karen was a member of the Osage Baptist Church. She loved Jesus with her whole heart.

Jerry and Karen enjoyed traveling the country. One special trip they took was to Colorado which led them to Wyoming where they saw Yellowstone National Park. Karen loved being around the animals. She was able to view the buffalo along with other wildlife. They were able to observe two bull elks in rut, fighting over a cow and Karen was able to capture that moment on film. She loved watching the video later and remembering how special it felt to witness such a remarkable event. She was so filled with love for these majestic beasts, that fear never entered her mind. She was hoping to see some bears but none were spotted on that trip.

Another trip that was very notable in their lives was when they went to South Dakota to see Mount Rushmore. Not only did they have the opportunity to join a small group of Americans who have stood on that special place and gazed upon those important faces from our history, but also Karen got to see her bears. She was, as you can imagine, overjoyed.

Karen is survived by her husband, Jerry of the home; Sons James and wife Roberta Thomas of Wichita, Kansas, Kenny and wife Tammy Thomas, and David and wife Melanie (Wood) Thomas all of Ponca City; grandchildren Hevon, Joey, Matthew and Madilynn Thomas, Blade, Royce and Madison Rowe, and Shawn Faulconer; Great-Grandchildren Anthony Faulconer, Seth Cox, Jett and Elizabeth Rowe and Iris Thomas; two brothers Bo and Mo McKinney.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and sister Sharon Nichols.

Online condolences can be paid at www.gracememorialchapel.net