Karen Sue Giddings

Karen Sue Giddings, 73, of Independence, Kansas, passed away on September 25, 2018 in Edmond, Oklahoma.

On August 2, 1945, Karen Sue Giddings was born in Independence, Kansas to Ernie and Evelyn Faulkner, the middle child between her brother Bob and sister Kim. She spent her childhood years doing everything from lifeguarding at the local pool, cheerleading for her school, to competing in beauty pageants. She graduated from Independence High School, married Scott Ogee, and moved to Oklahoma where she attended Beauty College and started a family.

A golf trip led to a match made in Heaven, when she met and eventually married Bill Giddings. Karen would go on to work alongside Bill in sales as a life insurance specialist and office manager for his State Farm office. The two were always active, whether it was at Indian Springs playing golf, or with First Baptist Church of Broken Arrow.

Upon retirement, Karen and Bill moved to South Carolina where they spent the next six years playing golf and enjoying life. Here, Karen not only loved the mountain views, but also spent her free time creating beautiful quilts. When not playing golf or quilting, she and Bill enjoyed volunteering at The BMW Charity Pro-Am golf tournament each year.

In 2008, they returned to Oklahoma and settled down at The Coves at Grand Lake, where they continued their daily golf adventures. They were heavily involved with their church and community, donating countless hours organizing and planning events. Karen orchestrated a Thanksgiving community meal each year that fed hundreds who otherwise would not have had a Thanksgiving meal. She and Bill also served weekly at The Blue House and Meals on Wheels.

If you knew Karen well, you had a funny story to tell. She was a mile a minute, and when she set her mind to it, it was going to get done, right now! She loved to cook, she loved to entertain, she loved her friends, and mostly she loved spending time with her family.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Giddings; her parents Lt. Col. Ernest and Evelyn Faulkner. She is survived by her brother Bob Faulkner; sister Kimberli Hull, her husband, Greg and their son Ryan. Her children Karianne Whatley, her husband LTC James Whatley; Darren Ogee, his wife Tarra; step son Jay Giddings and his wife Nootsie; and step son Jeff Giddings. Grandchildren Zachary Whatley, Cody Whatley, Jordan Ogee, Eric Giddings, and Lex Giddings. Great grandson James Whatley.

Honorary Pallbearers are Jay Giddings, Jeff Giddings, Jim Whatley, Greg Hull, and Bill Russell.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made to Meals on Wheels.

The family of Karen Sue Giddings wish to extend their sincere gratitude to the staff at Inverness Village in Tulsa, Touchmark at Coffee Creek in Edmond, and Physicians Choice Hospice.