Obituary of Karen A. Willis

Karen A. Willis, 57, of Kingsport, TN, passed away suddenly on December 25, 2019.

A long-time resident of the area, Karen graduated from Sullivan West High School in 1980. She then spent two decades working at the Hawkins County and Kingsport Press. She loved wrestling, rock 'n' roll music, Elvis Presley, and NASCAR, where her favorite drivers were Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Mary Cox and Harvey Cox; stepmother, Billy Jo Cox; grandparents, Thomas and Katie Gregg, and Basil and Tiny Belle Cox; uncles Denzel Cox, Eugene Gregg, and Edward Gregg; aunts Pauline Smith, Eula Mae Hawk, Lucille Dykes, and Pearl Holland; and cousin Lance Corpal “Bill” Dykes.

She is survived by her husband, Michael, who she was married to for 26 years; her son, Daniel Way, of Baileyton, TN, and his longtime girlfriend, Talishia Ketcherside. Other survivors include siblings John “Randy” Normark of Kingsport, TN, Mary Hazle of Pleasanton, CA, and James “Jim” Normark of Carrollton, TX; nephew Josh Shanks of Kingsport; nieces Megan Shanks and Sara Searl of Kingsport; cousins Larry and Jane Sentlle, who also were neighbors, and cousin Jane Dykes.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m., on Saturday, December 28, at Gravely Baptist Church, located at 647 Gravely Road in Kingsport.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a Gofundme page that has been set up to help with funeral expenses.