Karen Pippins

DEXTER -- Karen Ann Pippins, 54, died Nov. 19, 2011, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

Born March 31, 1957, in Nevada, Mo., to the late Kyle and Alta Gordon, she was a teacher in the Dexter public school system for 30 years and had just retired in June. She was a member of the First Christian Church Disciples of Christ in Dexter, Women of Faith Sunday school class, a member of the Stoddard County Retired Teachers Association, Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority, Stoddard County Relay for Life, Missouri State Teachers Association, and was the first recipient of the Dexter Chamber of Commerce 2009 Educator of the Year.

On Sept. 4, 1982, in Nevada, she married Bill Pippins Jr. who survives of the home.

Other survivors include: one son, Matthew G. Pippins of Dexter; one sister, Kelly Wrenn of Stockton; one sister-in-law, Nancy Rogers of Warrensburg; and two nieces.

Services were conducted today at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter with Dr. Larry Colvin and the Rev. Phil Warren officiating.

Burial followed in the Chalk Bluff Cemetery.