Karen Ann Kirchner

   Karen Ann (Compton) Kirchner was born June 4, 1947, and left us unexpectedly and heartbroken on February 12, 2024. Karen was born in Oklahoma City to Willard and Vera Compton. She was a proud alum of NW Classen High School where she attended from 1961 until she graduated in 1965. She enjoyed being a member of the NW Classen pep club, The Cygnets. She was the First Runner Up in the “Prettiest Red Head in the State of Oklahoma” beauty pageant in the summer of 1965. We are still protesting these results and demand a recount!

   NW Classen is where she met the love of her life, Jimmy Wayne Kirchner. They fell in love when they were 14 and have been together ever since. They were married on December 17, 1966, and lived a wonderful love story. After living in the big city for several years, they built their dream home in Cashion, Oklahoma in 1979 on a quiet, beautiful acreage and never left.  

   Karen took pride in her home and yard. She enjoyed sitting on her backyard deck and admiring all her gorgeous flowers. Karen worked for a small oil company, KPL Production for over 30 years. She worked for numerous years in “field offices” in Hennessey, Dover as well as Kingfisher. She was very loved and respected by all she worked with and enjoyed being “one of the guys.” 

   Karen lived her entire life taking care of people. Whether it was her parents, our beloved “Auntie”, Jim’s parents and extended relatives, her children or her husband, she worked tirelessly to make sure everyone around her was loved, well fed and comfortable. One quote comes to mind that is the true definition of our mom, “You don’t stop loving someone because they become hurt or ill, you get stronger so they can lean on you.” 

   Her grandchildren were the light of her eyes. She enjoyed many years of following them to their sporting events. As she got older and couldn’t attend the games, she always watched the games online. Her great grandchildren had recently become her greatest joy. She loved getting pictures of her great granddaughters who live out of state and she especially loved seeing and visiting Jaxon Jay who sometimes dressed up as a doctor and frequently did knee examinations. 

   Karen was preceded in death by her mother, father, infant sister Mary Coleen, niece Leah Blaire Osborne, Sister In-Law Marsha Kirchner and granddaughter by marriage Jacie Cochran. Karen is survived by her adoring husband of over 57 years, Jim, daughter Kerry (Chris) Cochran, son Kirk (Kristi) Kirchner and daughter Kristen Payahsape. She leaves behind eight grandchildren Cayden (Samantha) Cochran, Cale Cochran, Case (Karlie) Cochran, Trae Cochran, Kanon Kirchner, Kash Kirchner, Parker Payahsape and Presley Payahsape, her three great grandchildren Posey Rhea, Brady Lyn and Jaxon Jay Cochran, and her loving sister-in-law Gayle Rada (Vince).

   While we know that Karen is finally free of pain and having a grand time reuniting with loved ones and old friends, we will sure miss our beautiful and devoted “Grammy”. 

   A memorial service will be held at the Smith & Kernke Chapel at 14624 N. May Avenue, Oklahoma City on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, at 2:00 p.m.