Karen Maberry Carson, 62, of Graford, was called home Sunday, January 26, 2025. 

Viewing will be from 11:00 am-6:00 pm on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at Englunds Chapel, followed by a Rosary Service at 6:00 pm.  Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 am, Friday, January 31, 2025, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Lubbock, Texas.  Interment will follow at Englewood Cemetery.  Arrangements are by Englunds Funeral Service of Slaton.

Karen was born on September 7, 1962 to Eugene and Shirley Bednarz.  She was the second of four children and being the only girl, she embraced the role of big sister.  Growing up on the family farm, she never complained when she had to head to the field to work, as that meant she got to drive the car.

She graduated from Cooper High School in 1980 where she enjoyed distance running and playing basketball. 

She married Sidney Maberry at St. Joseph Catholic Church on April 17, 1982.  In 1983, they had their first of three children, all spaced 5 years apart.  Through these years, she worked as a medical transcriptionist.  You could often find her in her office with one of her children sprawled across her lap or hanging on her back as she typed away. 

In 1994, Sidney passed away after a 12-year battle with cancer.  Karen gracefully cared for Sidney while also raising three young children. Her passion for caregiving led her to enroll in nursing school at Texas Tech University.  She attended nursing school while also working full time and raising her children.  Her natural aptitude for nursing and diligent work ethic as a student resulted in her receiving prestigious scholarships and grants awarded for her excellence in nursing school.  She graduated in the Iota Mu Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, the international Honor Society for Nursing. 

She met Rick Carson, and they quickly bonded over their mutual love for fishing and their children.  This meant you could often find Rick and Karen at the lake fishing or at one of the kids’ sporting events.  They were married in Lubbock on February 1, 2006.  Karen and Rick’s large, combined family was her greatest joy, and her pride in them was evident to everyone around her.   

Her natural talent and caregiving nature led her to quickly earn the love and respect of her coworkers at Covenant.  She worked as a Registered Nurse in the Medical ICU until 2011 when she became ill and was no longer able to work.  Her illness resulted in many complications with her heart, a stroke, and heart transplant, but in the face of adversity, she faced it head on.  Always with a smile and a positive, upbeat attitude, she fought every day with grace and strength. 

Rick and Karen moved to Graford in 2022 on Possum Kingdom Lake.  They quickly made friends with many in the community and Karen loved spending time on the water, and fellowship with their neighbors as well as members of their church.

She is preceded in death by her first husband, Sidney Maberry, and her brother, Keith Bednarz; grandparents Willie and Irma Bednarz, and Ray and Lorena Kitten.

Karen is survived by her husband, Rick Carson of Graford; her daughter, Ashley Bynum and her husband, Will of New Home; her sons, Tyler Maberry and his wife, Laree of Midland, and Trey Maberry of Lubbock; her parents, Eugene and Shirley Bednarz of Slaton; her stepdaughter, Karsi Bradford and her husband, Cole of Lubbock; her stepsons, Casey Carson and his wife, Tricia of New Home, and Derick Carson and his wife, Cassie of Lubbock; her brothers, Curtis Bednarz and his wife, Claudia of Bedford, and Glenn Bednarz and Karla Vivial of Buffalo Springs; and 11 grandchildren.