Elaine Le Hartenbower Karr, age 87, died February 17, 2025. She was born September 15, 1937, at her parents, Leone Marie Lynn and Jerry Giles Hartenbower’s farm, north of Neosho Rapids, Kansas. She grew up in the Emporia area and graduated from Emporia High School in 1955. On August 17, 1958, she was united in marriage to Robert Ira Karr. The were married almost 67 years.
Elaine was preceded in death by her parents, her older sister Dolores Ann Jacob, brother Jerry Wayne Hartenbower, her daughter Kristi Lynn, and her son Jon Robert.
Elaine is survived by her husband Robert Karr, brother John Giles Hartenbower, (Ellen) of Colleyville, Texas. Also surviving are five grandchildren: Matthew Marion Watt of Turku, Finland, Patrick Paul Watt (Kat) of Lawrence, Kansas, Sarah Lynn Lockyear (Grant) of Topeka, Kansas, Lesa Ann Karr Morrison (Robbie) of Cortland, Nebraska, and Amy Kathleen Karr of Emporia, Kansas. Also surviving are 3 great grandchildren: Elsa Matilda Watt of Turku, Finland, Lyla Jane Morrison and Elijah John Morrison of Cortland, Nebraska; and 3 step-great grandchildren Scarlett of Lawrence, Kansas, Grant and Grady of Topeka, Kansas. She also had many cherished nieces and nephews. She loved them all.
Elaine was a devoted wife, Mother, Grandmother, and Great Grandmother. She was adored and loved by her family and will be greatly missed, but not forgotten. She was a part of a special generation!
Elaine loved working! She started her work career at Kress Dime Store when she was 16. During her senior year in high school, she covered the lunch hour at Doctor Kenneth Lohmeyer’s office. After high school graduation, in 1955, she started working at Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. She retired in 1991 from SWB/ATT. She was a proud retiree of the ATT family and had many friendships as a result of her ATT experience. They continued through her retirement years. She tried regularly to attend the KIT (Keep in Touch) meetings of retired employees in Topeka. She started work in January 1992 as a part time employee in the LEIAP Program at SRS for the State of Kansas and continued18 years until it transferred to Kansas City. She was employed in catering at Emporia State University of Sodexho for 14 years. Since 2001, she has been a part time employee at the Lyon County Courthouse as a switch board operator where she was employed at the time of death.
Elaine was a member of the Emporia Presbyterian Church and the ATT Telephone Pioneers. She was proud that in 1979 with much help from her family and friends, she completed “Four Years Through the Bible” a Menninger Bible Study. She loved her Bridge groups, although she did not consider herself a great player.
She has been cremated. At her request, no services are planned. On a day when the grass is green and the sun is shining, her ashes will be buried with her children in the family plot at Rosean Cemetery near her home.
In lieu of flowers, offer a random act of kindness to a good cause of someone in need. “I’ll love you always! Miss you a lot! Don’t forget to be happy. Hug those you love. I’m going soaring with the Eagles.”
