Karen Louise (Wathor) Walden

Funeral services for Karen Louise (Wathor) Walden, 83, of Tulsa, OK, were held Friday, November 14, 2025, at Collinsville Free Will Baptist Church in Collinsville, OK. Pastor Craig Shaw officiated. Casket bearers were Eric Muskrat, Jr., Austin Scott, Kyle Muskrat, Anthony Walden, Mikey Studie, and Braxton Robinson.

Karen was born on February 28, 1942, to Edward George Wathor and Lucille Alice (Trenary) Wathor. She passed away November 8, 2025, in Tulsa, OK.

Karen grew up in Peckham, OK, attended Peckham Grade School and graduated from Newkirk High School. She married Bud Baker and through this union they had Susan Baker and Donnie Baker. She later married Richard Walden and through this union had Eddie Walden and Stacey Walden. They lived and raised their family in Tulsa. Born the third of eight children and growing up on a farm, Karen learned the meaning of hard work early in life. She carried that work ethic throughout her life, raising her own children, working at UPS for 25 years and volunteering at her church. Karen loved going to Church and praising God. She enjoyed reading her Bible outside in her yard with the flowers she planted and the beautiful birds (Cardinals were her favorite). She loved all things purple. She enjoyed going on vacations with her friends. Crafts with the grandchildren was always something Karen loved to do and later in life it became crafts with the great-grandchildren. She had a knack for crocheting and made many crosses and doll clothes. Karen always served God in the Children’s Church and volunteered at Vacation Bible School. She was always cooking up something tasty for a Church gathering or crocheting something for the Shoebox Program, She was the heart of the family that held us together. Karen was a loving wife, devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend. She always tried to solve every problem with a warm meal and a helping hand. Her homemade noodles were always a staple at every holiday, and she would spend weeks making them. Her home was always open when needed. She believed food and love could heal anything and for many of us; they often did. Karen loved God deeply and her faith was very important to her. Her faith guided her through every joy and hardship, and she shared that faith loudly and powerfully with those around her. Today we take comfort in knowing that she is in heaven, reunited with her son, Donnie and great grandson, Eric, most likely playing with hot wheels. Karen’s legacy will live on through the faith in Jesus that she shared with everyone she came in contact with, and the countless memories filled with laughter and love. Her motto was simple: help others, do what’s right and above all, love the Lord. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Karen is survived by her husband, Richard Walden; children, Susan Baker-Wilson and wife Tanya, Eddie Walden and Stacey Walden; 12 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; sisters, Rita Dotson and husband, JD, Carol Morris, Patty Wood and husband, Randy, Debbie Cain and Teresa Angle and husband, Mike; sister-in-law, Linda Lewis; and many other relatives and friends.

Karen was preceded in death by her son, Donnie Baker; great-grandchild, Eric Muskrat III; father, Edward Wathor; mother, Lucille Wathor; and two brothers, Eugene Wathor and Michael Wathor.

Arrangements and services were entrusted to Johnson Funeral Home, Sperry.

Online condolences to the family can be made at johnsonsperry.com.