Karen Sue Smith, April 30, 1953 - August 31, 2025.

Karen Sue Smith passed peacefully at 5:20 pm on August 31, 2025, at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, IN.

She was born Karen Sue Houston on April 30, 1953, in Mishawaka, In, the daughter of Norma Jean (Fox) Houston and Kenneth Colfax Houston. She was raised and went to school in Granger and was a 1971 graduate of Penn High School. She attended Ozark Bible College as well as Memorial and Ivy Tech nursing schools.

 She lived most of her life in Marshall County, working as an LPN for much of it. Karen loved caring for others. She showed this in her personal life and as a nurse in long-term care facilities for the elderly. She had a gift for caring. It was upbeat and paired with a quirky sense of humor that was all her own. If you knew her, you would never forget her flair for life. 

She loved to knit, crochet, study the Bible, garden, and make meals for others. She was a devout Christian and attended the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Plymouth for many years.  

Karen and Michael William Smith were married on May 21, 1988. She made a home with him in LaPaz and was beloved by all those who knew and visited her.  

Left to cherish the memories of Karen are her spouse, brothers, Joseph S. Houston of  LaPaz,  Kenneth S. Houston (LuAnn) of Seymour, IN, sisters, Marianne Kay Houston of Omaha, NE,  Amy L. Walton of Rochester, IN, and  Gail F. Houston of  Plymouth, IN. Also surviving are great-nieces Chrissy Taylor of Topeka, KS, Dawn Smith of Omaha, Haylie  Toro of Rochester, and Ashley Szymanski of Plymouth, and nephews Jonathan Walton of  Carmel, Tyler Walton of Rochester. Her mother-in-law, Linda Smith, and brother-in-law, Jeffery G. Smith of Plymouth, also survive.

Preceding her in death are her parents and a brother, Michael L. Houston. 

Arrangements are being entrusted to Haverstock Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 602 Maple Ave., LaPorte, IN. The family has chosen cremation with a Celebration of Life to take place at a later date.

Online condolences may be made at www.haverstockfuneralhome.com.