Dolores Genevieve (Snuffer) Karr

Dolores Genevieve Karr, age 95, passed away peacefully on March 12, 2020, at Countryside Manor surrounded by her family and her cat Cleo.  She was preceded in death by her husband Dr. Jean Karr, her brother and sister-in-law Richie and Hopie Snuffer and in-laws Carol and Edwin King.  She was born to Vinson and Irma Snuffer at her family’s farm in Surveyor, West Virginia, on April 8, 1924. She is survived by her five children: Cassandra Karr (Paul Mason) of Grand Haven; Jeanette (Clifford, Jr.) Cole of Jackson; Deborah (Claude, Jr.) Spencer of Clarklake; Andrew (Patricia) Karr of Marshall; and Teresa (Jeffrey Jackson) Karr of Concord, MI, 10 grandchildren: Daniel (Rachel) Spencer; Nathan (Loree) Spencer; Anna (Javaris) Powell; Abbie Spencer; Cody and Tana Moore; David (Aimee) Cole; Emily (Justin) Charles; Sarah (Jeremie) Bular; and Laura (Benjamin) Coughlin, and 12 great-grandchildren. Dolores was also loved by numerous nieces and nephews: Kevin and Keith King, Candace Chudada; Richard and John Snuffer; Cindy Henderson; and her only surviving first cousin: Tommy Snuffer.  Dolores attended West Virginia University where she met and married Jean Karr. 

She graduated in 1945 with a B.S. in Home Economics. When Jean enrolled at the University of Illinois Medical School in Chicago, Dolores worked at Cook County Hospital as a bacteriological technician developing the BCG tuberculosis vaccine. Dolores spent the next 76 years as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. Up until a week before her passing, she sent cards and visited ailing friends. In tribute to Dolores’ relentless kindness, please give a hug, send a caring note, bring flowers, call, or make a new friend.  Since 1953, Dolores was an active member of the Jackson’s Arbor Grove Congregational Church. She was a life-long learner who loved reading and gardening. Traveling to the shores of Lake Superior became an annual family tradition. Later in life she explored many countries as far away as Australia. Perhaps the most valued trip, however, was to her family’s 200-acre Appalachian farm where she’d sit on the back porch reminiscing with her brother and kinfolk. 

A celebration of her life will be held at a future undetermined date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Arbor Grove Congregational Church at 2621 McCain Road, Jackson, MI 49203 or give to a charity of your choice.   

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