Karen Louise Harbor

Karen Louise Harbor, 72, of Dayton, Texas, went to be with the Lord on November 21, 2020. She was born on September 11, 1948, in Pleasant Hill, Louisiana to the late Herbert and Hazel Jacobs.

Karen was retired from OxyVinyl Chemical Plant where she worked her way up from a Warehouse Supervisor to a Unit Operator.  She was very proud of her accomplishment and so are we. She was a hard worker and had a strong work ethic. She enjoyed her job and the people she worked with even more.

In her younger days she was an expert horse rider and wagon driver. She could drive a wagon with up to 4 horses or mules pulling them. Ride almost any horse no matter the temperament. She was often found at the barn surrounded by family and friends.  She spent lots of time trail riding with several groups including Trinity Valley Trail riders and was one of the founding members of Redneck Riders.  Her favorite horse out of many that she owned was the famous Comanche who at one time had been downtown 13 times to ride in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. She also was a volunteer at the Houston Rodeo on several committees for most of her adult years and had even made it to Lifetime Committeeman. She said that is the one for the old people who don’t have to work anymore. She enjoyed being there and seeing all the little kids playing and learning new lessons. She mostly enjoyed working on Fun on the Farm which we laughingly told her she worked at the Funny Farm. She enjoyed going to watch the Cutting Horses perform at the Rodeo along with the mule pulls. It will never be the same without her as we tried to schedule one day to take and spend with her there.

She was an amazing Mother and even better grandmother. She was full of knowledge and wisdom but never overbearing. She enjoyed running errands with the girls on the weekends.  She was a best friend to her girls and fiercely protective. She enjoyed gambling, traveling, spending time with family, playing games, animals and dancing as much as her health would allow. She enjoyed waking up on Saturday morning and laying in her bed listening to all of us talk and start our day. She called it the “Waking of the House.”  She loved listening to all of our stories and she loved cheering Howard’s racing from afar. She is loved and will be missed terribly.

She was a part of a social group at church called N. G. O.  “Never Grow Old” with her mother and daughter for a while. It offered good fellowship, help with church activities, traveling and eating out.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Herbert Riley “Chick” and Hazel Lois Jacobs; her brother, Dennis Michael Jacobs; her daughters, Lucretia Kaye Cook and Darla Kramer, her grandsons, Howard Jay “HJ” Willis IV and Larry Amonette, and her nephew Eric Jacobs. Karen is survived by her daughter, Elisa and spouse Howard Willis; her sister Cynthia McClellan; her grandchildren Hunter and spouse Dusty Tousha, Jason Ritch, Cory and spouse Rebecca Ritch, Aron and spouse Dee Dee Willis, Roy and spouse Valerie Amonette, her great aunt and the favorite, Bobby Lorraine and spouse David King, her niece, Macy Murray, her nephew, Kyle McClellan her nephew Nicholas Jacobs, many great grandchildren along with many extended family members.

Friends are invited to visit with the family on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 from 6 pm until 8 pm, in the chapel of Sterling~ White Funeral Home, 11011 Crosby Lynchburg Rd, Highlands, Texas 77562. A funeral service for Ms. Harbor will be held on Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at 10 am in the chapel with Bro Beau Roussar officiating. A graveside service and committal will immediately follow.

Condolences and memories can be shared online at www.sterlingwhite.com.