Karen Faye Parker Fisher, 78, of Cleveland, Tennessee, passed away Saturday, September 10, 2016 in a Nashville hospital.
She was born in Cleveland, TN on February 12, 1938 and graduated from Bradley County High School in 1956. Karen was a majorette with the marching band. After high school she attended Wesleyan College in Macon, GA, transferred to Peabody College in Nashville and graduated from the University of Tennessee.
While at UT she met and married Richard Ashley Fisher who at that time was a law student. Karen was a licensed speech therapist and worked at the Knoxville Cerebral Palsy Center until she gave birth to her son, Ralph Kevin Fisher. Shortly thereafter Karen and her family moved to Memphis for a year before returning to Cleveland where she gave birth to her daughter, Kerri Frances Fisher. For a short period of time Karen returned to work as a speech therapist. Thereafter she devoted her life to raising her children and her family.
Karen loved sailing, the family cabin at Lake Ocoee, traveling and her grandchildren. She remained totally devoted to her family. Later in life Karen developed COPD. Her strength, will to live, love of family and belief in God carried her through her suffering for many, many years.
She was preceded in death by her brother, James Keith Parker; her father, Ralph L. Parker; her mother, Frances Bass Parker and her step father, William J. Kibler.
Karen is survived by her husband, Richard Ashley Fisher of Cleveland; her son, Ralph Kevin Fisher and his wife, Susan Paley Fisher of Los Angeles, CA; her daughter, Kerri Frances Fisher Turner and her husband, Robert Madison Turner of Sanibel Island, FL; her grandson, Jacob Andrew Carlton of Sanibel Island, FL; her granddaughter, Ashley Katherine Carlton of Sanibel Island, FL; her grandson, Asher Koufax Fisher of Los Angeles, CA; nine step-grandchildren; and other family members and friends.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 18 at First United Methodist Church with the Reverend Tim Bracken officiating. The inurnment will follow in Hilcrest Memorial Gardens.
Her family will receive friends on Sunday from 1-2 p.m. in the Narthex at the church prior to the service.
Fike-Randolph & Son Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.