FRANKLIN FURNACE— Karen Jean Simpson Stapleton, 62, of Franklin Furnace, passed away Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008, at the Community Hospice Care Center in Ashland, Ky.
The Ironton native was born Feb.6, 1946, the daughter of Della Mae Willis Simpson of Ironton and the late Merlin Simpson. She is survived by her husband, Phillip Clyde Stapleton, whom she married Sept.12, 1964.
Karen was a 1964 graduate of Dawson- Bryant High School. She was a homemaker and attended the First Church of God in Franklin Furnace.
In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by
an aunt, Lois Hummel.
In addition to her mother and husband, she is also survived by two sons and a daughter-in-law, Duane and Candice Stapleton of Wheelersburg and Phillip C. Stapleton, Jr., of Franklin Furnace; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Lois Stapleton, of Los Angeles, Calif., Deondra and Larry Baldwin, of Ironton and Cheryl and Brian Hammonds, of Franklin Furnace; two brothers and two sisters-in-law, Don and Pam Simpson, of South Point and Lowell and Karen Simpson, of Culloden, W.Va.;
nine grandchildren, Jamie Blanton, Teresa Berry, Tiffany Berry, Matthew Stapleton, Brandon Stapleton, Hannah Sloas, Cody Sloas, Kayla Hammonds and Cory Hammonds; two great grandchildren, Devon Shope and Tyler Blanton; special friends, Sarah and Billy Barker of Ironton and Janie and Mike Thompson, of Flatwoods, Ky.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Monday at Phillips Funeral Home with the Revs. Ronnie Blevins and Kenny Potter officiating. Burial will follow in Haverhill Cemetery. Friends may call 6-9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. To offer condolences to the family, please visit www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.