Karen Slack Bennett

Pottsboro
Karen Slack-Bennett passed away at her home in Pottsboro on Saturday, January 23, 2016.
Born in Madill, Oklahoma on June 24, 1953, Karen was the daughter of Harold and Mary (Bennett) Slack. She attended Madill Public Schools. Artistically and musically talented, she painted, played saxophone and piano, and was Drum Major for the Madill High School Band.
After graduation, she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music at North Texas State
University. She entered the school system to teach music to K-12 grades.
She married in 1976 and soon moved to Sayre, OK. There, Karen pursued her education, receiving a Master’s of Education from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 1979.
The next six years brought incredible joy into her life as she became a very loving mother to a daughter, Leah, and two sons, Bret and Grant. During this time, the family moved to Texas and
Karen continued to serve children by teaching 4th grade in Whitesboro from 1986-1994.
Always having a heart for helping others, Karen worked to obtain her Masters in School Counseling from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 1995. She became the Pottsboro Middle School Counselor, devoting countless hours assisting many, many students who remember her fondly, until her retirement in 2009.
Karen also had a passion for being outdoors. She enjoyed fishing and hunting and even her house lodge-style decor reflected this appreciation. After retirement she spent four summers in
Alaska working at the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge in Cooper Landing, where she enjoyed meeting new people, salmon fishing, and a close encounter with a bear!
Perhaps the ultimate blessing in her life was when her own children blessed her with grandchildren! Karen took right to her role of “MaMaw” and loved having her grandchildren visit her frequently, where many activities were enjoyed such as backyard marshmallow roasts, reading, playing marbles and serving up caramel apples for breakfast (because MaMaw’s can get by with that!) Karen’s untimely passing has left a hole in the hearts of many and she is truly missed. Karen is survived by her mother, Mary Slack, of Madill; daughter, Leah Alexander and husband, Lavan of Little Elm, Texas; son Bret Bennett and wife, Brittany, of Sherman, Texas; son Grant Bennett of Pottsboro, Texas; sister Kay Dalton and husband, Jim of Claremore, OK; grandchildren Baylee, Bella, Blair, Emme and London; four nephews, Jim, Luke, Matt and Kyle Dalton; and close cousin Norma Ramirez.
If you knew this loving and beloved mother, daughter, sister, and friend, you are invited to bid her farewell at any of the following services: Family visitation on Thursday, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Johnson-Moore Pottsboro Chapel; Funeral services at 10:00 a.m. Friday, January 29, 2016 at Johnson-Moore
Pottsboro Chapel with Minister Eddie Gossett, Sr. officiating; Burial service at 3:00 p.m. at Oakland Cemetery in Oakland, Oklahoma. Arrangements are under the direction of Johnson-Moore Funeral Home, Denison, Texas.
Condolences may be registered to: www.johnsonmoorefuneralhome.net