HEBER SPRINGS — Karen Rebecca Brinley,

passed away in her home at 4:30 p.m., on August 30, 2021. Karen was born on June 8, 1944, in Highland Park, Michigan, the youngest child of Mark Carlisle Roose and Bessie Matilda Erickson. She graduated from Oakland University with a Bachelor’s degree in Education in 1969 and went on to receive her Master’s degree in reading there as well in 1975. She was an elementary school teacher at Utica Community School from 1970 through 1979 and enjoyed influencing the lives of all her young students. She moved with her husband Bill to Fairfield Bay, Arkansas, and later to Heber Springs, where they have resided since 2002.

She was active in her church at First United Methodist Church and was active in the Steven Ministry and the American Legion. Her favorite charities were St. Joseph’s Indian School in South Dakota, Christian Appalachian, Discovering the Jewish Jesus, Salvation Army, The Red Cross, Billy Graham’s Rapid Response Team, and Feed the Children.

She is survived by her husband Bill Brinley, her daughters, Melisa Faircloth, Kathryn Boyles, and, Rebecca Antonucci, her grandsons, William Faircloth, James Faircloth, Daniel Boyles, and Adam Yeisley, her granddaughter, Joscelyn Boggs, and her great-granddaughters, Kaylee Faircloth and Madaalyn Faircloth.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., on Saturday, September 4, 2021, in the First United Methodist Church in Heber Springs, Arkansas, with interment following in Woodland Memorial Park in Edgemont, Arkansas.

Arrangements are by Olmstead Funeral Home. www.olmstead.cc