Karen MacArthur

Karen Kay (Jones) Smith Sommer MacArthur was born April 24, 1947, the daughter of Fred and Willi (Shelton) Jones in Light, Arkansas. She passed away March 25, 2025 at her home in Cherokee Village, Arkansas at the age of 77 years, 11 months.

Karen received her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Language Speech Pathology and was employed for many years at schools in Cardwell, Missouri and Paragould, Arkansas. She was of the Church of Christ faith and enjoyed reading her Bible daily. Her favorite pastime was anything and everything about world news, a topic on which she had become quite the expert.

She was united in marriage to Charles Smith, who preceded her in death September 9, 2001. She married Ron Sommer in 2009; he preceded her in death May 17, 2011. Karen married Douglas A. MacArthur on February 13, 2015. They shared ten blessed years together.

Karen is survived by her husband, Doug; sons, Brian Smith and wife Cecilia of Paragould and Brock Smith of Ellington, Missouri; granddaughters: Shelby, Casey, Shilo, and Nikona; great-granddaughter, Quinn; step-children and step-grandchildren: Kris (Frank) Salava of Lino Lakes, Minnesota, Mary (Rick) Skilling of Alexandria, Minnesota, and Mark (Sara) MacArthur of Avon, Minnesota; other relatives and many friends.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Betty Bateman; and three brothers: Earl, Daryl, and Luther. 

Visitation of family and friends will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 5, 2025 at the Mountain Home Church of Christ in Paragould, Arkansas. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. with inurnment to follow.

The family gives many "THANKS" to Davita Dialysis staff of Pocahontas for their care and support over the last eighteen months and to Legacy Hospice of Salem for their compassionate care and support which allowed Karen to be in her home (per her wishes) for the last three months.

Arrangements are entrusted to Tri-County Funeral Home, 1540 Hwy. 62/412, Highland, AR 72542.