Karen Rena Morgan

1. Karen Rena Cantrell Morgan, 62, of Yellow Springs, Ohio, gracefully went to be with her Savior on Saturday, August 9, 2026, at The James Cancer Center, surrounded by her family.
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Karen was born on August 8, 1964, to Dolphy “Doc” and Loverna Kilgore Cantrell. She quickly became the little girl who always had her daddy’s heart and the twinkle of her mama’s eye.

As a child, Karen loved life. She loved to play (especially board games) and loved to laugh alongside all of her cousins. She had the love and support of a very large and tight-knit family.

Karen graduated from Fairborn Park Hills High School in 1982 and went on to Wright State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. In 1987, she married Walter “Jr.” Morgan. Together, they welcomed their sons, Zachary Scott and Kaleb Lee.

Karen loved to cook for her family and friends. Her specialties included lasagna, chili, and 7-layer salad, but she was perhaps best known for her famous Christmas candy, which she loved to make and share with everyone. She was an avid supporter of anything the boys were involved in, from sports to 4-H and everything in between. Karen’s greatest joy was, being Granna. She took pride in loving them, supporting them, and being present for all the special moments.

Karen also loved the outdoors. She loved to mow, working in her flowerbeds, and the pool was her oasis. She and Jr. enjoyed taking rides and spending time at the river with friends. She loved big family holidays, cookouts, crab boils, dancing, and simply being surrounded by the people she loved.

Karen gave her life to Christ and followed in baptism in 2012. She was a member of Fairborn FWB Church. For many years, she was the “egg maker” for the church breakfasts.

Karen recently celebrated 40 years in nursing. Her career included serving as an RN at Greene Memorial Hospital, working her way to Director of Nursing at Greene Oaks, and, for the past several years, serving as a Nursing Care Manager for Caregiver Homes of Ohio. She considered caring for others not simply a career, but a calling.

Karen is preceded in death by her parents, Doc and Loverna; her brother, Jeffrey Scott Cantrell; beloved grandparents; several dear aunts and uncles.

She is survived by her husband of 38 years, Walter “Jr.” Morgan; her sons, Zachary (Sable) Morgan and Kaleb (Crystal Stephen) Morgan; her grandchildren, Zoey, Axel, and Abel; and a host of family and friends.

Karen leaves behind a legacy of faith, family, service, laughter, and love. She spent her life taking care of others, making people feel loved, filling tables with good food, and creating memories with the people who mattered most. Her greatest joy was her family, and her love for them will continue to live on through every generation she touched.

Services will be Saturday, August 15, 2026 at the Maple Avenue Church of God, 1352 South Maple Avenue, Fairborn, OH 45324.

Visitation: 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Celebration of Life: 11:30 a.m.

Burial to follow service at Byron Cemetery.