LARNED – Karen Maxine (Marlett Wilhite) Hall, 76, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, September 16th, 2021, at Diversicare of Hutchinson.
Karen was such a pure and sweet soul. She always maintained a gracious forgiving spirit, even after enduring some cruel blows in life. In this way especially she was a role model to her children and others. Karen endeavored to love others the way her savior, Jesus Christ, loved her.
Karen had many fond memories of her childhood with her “Granny”, parents, brothers, Marlett, Durler, and Kirchgassner cousins, and friends. She talked a lot about loving her dolls, short-haired terrier Trixie, a pogo-stick, a phone in her room, riding horses, and her dear housekeeper, Annabelle. And the family has a treasure-trove of pictures as evidence.
She also loved life and as a beautiful teen, Karen was known for “dragging the gut” in Larned, watching Elvis Presley movies, getting into mischief with her closest friends and cousins, and riding her horse “Poco EP” (Elvis Presley).
Karen surely loved her family and friends. In late 2019 she was asked what made her happiest in life, and Karen said it was her four children and her beloved devoted husband Judd. She said that Judd always took really good care of her, and for all the years after his passing she pined to be reunited with him in Heaven. The Lord has now made that reunion happen.
Karen was born September 5, 1945, in Larned, the daughter of Lawrence Elwood “L.E.” “Mick” and Alma Maxine Smeltzer Marlett. A lifetime area resident. She worked from 1960 through 1980 at A&W restaurant, Ritzman’s pharmacy, Larned State Hospital, and T’s Place restaurant.
She was a member of New Beginnings Church of the Nazarene in Larned.
On May 8, 1966, she married John A. Wilhite, they later divorced, and he passed away May 7, 2016. On November 9, 1981, she married Judge “Judd” Edgar Hall. He passed away May 11, 1995.
Survivors include: two sons, Scott (Rebecca) Kirby Wilhite, Hartford, CT, Christopher (Angela) John Wilhite, Larned; two daughters, Teri (Jim) Janell (Wilhite) Thomas, Hutchinson, Cindi (David) Diane (Wilhite) Dinning, Larned, stepson, Paul Hall; eight grandchildren, Brandon Stegman, Faith Dinning, Christian Dinning, Kiley Dinning, Cami (Wilhite) Venhaus, Tanner Madden, Dalton Madden, Gage Lawrence and three great-grandchildren, Grayson, Jacob, and Abbott Venhaus.
She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Raymond Dean Marlett and Lawrence Vernal Marlett.
The funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, September 22, 2021, at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel, Larned with Pastor Jack Hopkins presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Beckwith Mortuary. The family will receive visitors from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Burial will be in the Brown’s Grove Cemetery, Burdett.
Memorials may be given to New Beginnings Church of the Nazarene or Hartford City Mission in care of Beckwith Mortuary, Box 477 Larned, KS 67550. Condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Beckwith Mortuary
P.O. Box 477
Larned, KS 67550
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Sept. 19, 2021
