Karen Kay Leonard

Karen Kay Leonard

Karen Kay Ball Leonard was born February 18, 1943, to Irene (Nowka) and Wilson Oscar Ball near Hinton, Oklahoma. She moved at age three to Wynnewood, Oklahoma, where she completed her primary and secondary education, graduating as valedictorian. It was there she developed her abiding faith, tireless work ethic, and dedication to democracy and fairness - principles that would guide the rest of her life. Starting at Oklahoma City University she graduated from Boston University with a bachelors in secondary education. She married Jack Edward Leonard of Ponca City, Oklahoma, in Cambridge, Massachusetts on June 18, 1965. Attending Southern Methodist University, she received an M.A. in English.

Karen Kay dedicated her adulthood to helping others - family, friends, students, and community. She taught in elementary schools (TX), secondary schools (TX, IN), and college (CA). She, Jack, and their three children moved to Indianapolis in August, 1985. She taught English at North Central High School until 1999. An active longtime member of the League of Women Voters, she served as president of both the city and the state League. She also dedicated considerable attention and work at North United Methodist Church, volunteering on and chairing numerous committees and cofounding in 1992 a young adult Sunday school class that still meets. A three-time cancer survivor, she lived with bravery and kindness in the face of chronic autoimmune disease that impacted her daily life. A devoted mother and grandmother, Karen Kay hosted Sunday dinner at her home each week and there was always room for one more at her table. Her life was marked by diligence, competence, and a deep concern for those around her. She will be missed.

She is preceded in death by her parents and her son, James. She is survived by her husband Jack, daughters Christine Rembert of Indianapolis (Maurice) and their sons Jack Thomas, Aaron Andrew, and David Wilson, daughter Annette Leonard (Rebecca Williams) of Eugene, Oregon, and by her sister Mea (Gaelen) Daum of Poway, CA, and children Arwen (Reston, VA) and Nathan (Kapa'a, Kauai, HI).

Her memorial service will be at North United Methodist Church, Indianapolis, at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 15, with calling from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Memorial gifts would be appreciated for the Program and Mission Endowment at North UMC, 3808 N Meridian, 46228, or online to Waza Alliance for Quality Education, of which she was a cofounder and major supporter ( waza-alliance.org).