Karen Rochelle Leith

Karen Rochelle Byars Leith of Mayflower, Ark., formerly of North Little Rock, Ark., died April 5. She was born Nov. 30, 1939 to Bessie Rozella and John Roger Byars in Tulsa, Okla.

Karen retired from a nursing career at Baptist Memorial Hospital in North Little Rock where she worked in the emergency department for many years before moving to behavioral medicine.

Left to bear her loss and cherish her memory are her husband, Gordon Leith, of the home; her children, Victoria Tarter and husband, Richard, of Bellevue, Wash.; Wesley Hitt of Fayetteville, Ark.; Lisa Thompson and husband, Doug, of Fayetteville; and Stefanie O'Neal and husband, Mark, of Mt. Prospect, Ill.; her grandchildren, Lauren Greene-Thompson and wife, Arielle, of Springdale, Ark., Victoria Grace Thompson and Samuel Thompson of Fayetteville, and Mark Conner, Cade and Kyle O'Neal of Mt. Prospect, Ill.; her brother, Steven Byars of Dallas, Texas; and her former husband and the father of her children, Jack Hitt, of Little Rock, Ark.

What should be known and remembered of Karen's life is that she was tenacious. She did not seek fights, but when challenged by people or circumstances, she prevailed. Karen was smart. She graduated nursing school while raising four children as a single mother. Karen was beautiful. She possessed a sense of style and grace that transcended the fads of the day. Karen was compassionate. She suffered losses, but reached out to comfort those around her. She knew vulnerability and used it to help others feel strong. She knew fear and helped others feel secure. She knew hope and love and gave full measures of each to those around her.

A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at Memorial Park in Tulsa, Okla. Arranged by Schaudt-Teel Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Pulaski County Humane Society, 14600 Colonel Glenn Road, Little Rock, AR. 72210.