Karen LaRee Tavares

Karen LaRee Tavares, age 68, resident of Somerville, Tennessee and wife of Paul H. Tavares, departed this life Wednesday morning, September 25, 2024 at Alive Hospice in Nashville, Tennessee.

Karen was born December 20, 1955 in Grove City, Pennsylvania, the daughter of the late Norman Shipton and Gladys Mae Kimbrell Shipton. She met the love of her life, Paul H. Tavares, at church and quietly encouraged him to ask her out when they were in their mid-teens. It was, as she recently put it, a match made in heaven. Married in 1975, they spent just shy of 49 years together, laboring to show forth Christ in all aspects of their lives. She was her husband's best friend and confidant - quietly supporting and encouraging him with her level-headed wisdom throughout so many trials in their lives.

During high school, she was a majorette and had a pleasant voice while singing in the choir at school and church. She was patient and encouraging to children, having taught Sunday School and worked at a YMCA daycare center. Karen homeschooled her children and had a strong desire to see her children and grandchildren succeed, giving selflessly to make that happen. She was very gifted in organizational skills that she put to use in chairing fundraising campaigns for a local Christian School.

Mrs. Tavares was talented in sewing, knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, quilting and many other arts and crafts that she gave to her children, grandchildren, new mothers and many others. She was an excellent cook and baker that had people looking for her creations whenever the opportunity arose, which were many, as she provided abundantly to guests in her home, church ministries and coworkers in her and her husband's workplaces. Quoted from her grandchildren, "Her cooking was FANTASTIC!"

Karen's home was a pleasant and comfortable place for many guests, particularly those that were laboring in the gospel ministry. One of her greatest joys was having family in her home - she couldn't get enough of them. Aside from her love of Christ and her husband, there was no one that she loved more. She prayed daily for each, made treats and gifts tailored to each and remembered them on their special days. Their welfare was always on her mind. Her greatest desire was that they know Christ and live for him.

Mrs. Tavares also had a green thumb and she loved to work in her very large flowerbeds and vegetable garden. She was selfless, hardworking, extremely honest, thrifty, frugal, pleasant in her carriage of self, spoken of by one as being a classy lady, beautiful in appearance and character, known for her smile, quiet, never seeking the limelight, friendly, charitable, encouraging to others, exemplary in life, patiently endured difficult trials with little outward complaint, one who loved Christ above all else, looked to Him for strength, and lived to please Him with a sincere heart.

Those that knew Karen best knew her quiet strength was anchored in the Lord. Even in the greatest trial in the last years of her life, she continually gave credit to the Lord for carrying her through it - and still was more concerned with others wellbeing above her own. She was known for her kind and loving smile and took delight in the little things that the Lord provided and was able to see the blessings in even the hardships in life.

Mrs. Tavares is survived by her husband, Paul H. Tavares of Somerville, TN; her daughter, Mindy Tavares of Rome, GA; her son, Micah Tavares (Audrey) of Ontario, Canada; her brother, Robert Shipton (Judy) of Virginia; and eleven grandchildren, Micaiah Hubenthal, Roane Hubenthal, Lealanna Hubenthal, Gideon Hubenthal, Tobias Hubenthal, Vanora Hubenthal, Brom Hubenthal, Mercedes Tavares, Karick Tavares, Scotia Tavares and Asher Tavares.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Lonnie and Jody.

Funeral Services for Mrs. Tavares were held at 11 A.M. Monday, September 30, 2024 at the Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland with Dr. Mark Winder, pastor of Wolf River Presbyterian Church in Collierville, Tennessee, officiating. Interment followed in Somerville City Cemetery.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers will be Micaiah G. Hubenthal, Roane M. Hubenthal, Gideon B. Hubenthal, Tobias Q. Hubenthal, Karick M. Tavares and Micah P. Tavares.