Karen Witterman

In My Heart

I thought of you today,

But that is nothing new.

I thought about you yesterday,

And days before that too.

I think of you in silence.

I often speak your name.

Now all I have are memories,

And your picture in a frame.

Your memory is my keepsake,

With which I’ll never part.

God has you in his keeping.

I have you in my heart.

Karen Sue (Jones) Witterman passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her family on Aug. 3, 2023, at the age of 80. Karen was born to Bruce T. Jones and Katherine Juanita (Dean) Jones on Sept. 20, 1942, in Miami, Oklahoma. When Karen was 15, her family moved to Grants, New Mexico. It was in Grants that Karen met her future husband, Joe. The two were married Aug. 20, 1959, in Gallup, New Mexico and made their home in Grants, New Mexico. Joe and Karen had two children; a son, Joe E. Witterman Jr., and a daughter, Terri L. (Witterman) Dillard.

Joe and Karen moved the family to the Globe/Miami area in 1970, but by the end of the year they moved once again, to Morenci, Arizona and they resided in Morenci for three years before moving back to the Globe/Miami area where she resided for 50 years until her passing.

Karen was a Domestic Engineer (and she was the best cook in the world as far as her family was concerned) for most of her marriage but she did work for several years at H&R Block in Globe. Karen had many lifelong friends that she met in each place she and Joe moved to, and she kept in touch with them all. It was in Morenci, though, that she found her passion for bowling. She remained an avid bowler until the Globe bowling alley closed. Karen enjoyed watching her favorite soap, “Days of our Lives,” every day for over 50 years until it was taken off daytime programming. She also enjoyed crocheting, making jewelry and spending time with her bowling girlfriends, and she was very active in the Globe/Miami Gun Club for many years with her husband and then with the Apache Bow Hunters Club in later years until her health started to decline.

Karen is survived by her husband of 63 years Joe, brother Mike Jones (Carrie & Piper), her son Joe (Renee), daughter Terri, granddaughters Jolene (Jose), Trisha (Nic), Laci and Stacy-Jo, grandsons Jason (Ercia), Erin and Steven, brother in-law Jerry (Nori & nephews Mike & Jay), best friend Bobbi Jones (Slu), 16 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.

Karen is deeply loved by her family and will be terribly missed forever and ever!