ELLINWOOD — Karen Elaine (Thacker) Proffitt, 77, passed away July 15, 2026 surrounded by loved ones at Ellinwood District Hospital in Ellinwood, Kan. Born in Anadarko, Okla. on Nov. 12, 1948, she was the daughter of Harold and Annie Jo (Jordan) Thacker. She grew up in Oklahoma graduating from Eisenhower High School, Lawton, Okla. Karen was an Ellinwood resident since 1989 formerly of Sterling. She married Cap Proffitt in 1969, they later divorced. Karen worked for the Dodge City Daily Globe, Barton County Feeders, 10th Street Eyecare, and Southwind Drilling before retirement in 2020.
Memberships include Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, Ellinwood Community Church, and the Altar Guild Society.
Survivors include daughter, Jennifer (Kent) Crawford, Elmdale, Kan; son, Spencer (Amanda) Proffitt, Ellinwood, Kan.; grandchildren, Daulton (Brooke) Crawford, Elmdale, Kan., Daryn Crawford, Galveston, Texas, Cooper Proffitt, Ellinwood Kan., Aliyah Proffitt, Ellinwood, Kan.; great-grandchild, Stetson Crawford, Elmdale, Kan.; brother, Steve (Tamera) Thacker; sister, Cathy (Larry) Keyes; sisters-in-law, Teresa (Keith) Harmon and Sherry (Ryan) Culpepper; brother-in-law, Daniel (Toni) Proffitt; uncle, Roy Lee (Pam)Thacker and numerous nieces and nephews. Karen was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Annie Jo Thacker; and in laws, Jacquelyn (Crockett) and Gayle Proffitt.
Funeral service will take place 10 a.m., Tuesday, July 21 at Ellinwood Community Church with Pastor Samuel Ryan officiating. Interment will follow at St. John’s Lutheran Church Cemetery in rural Rice County, Kan. Visitation will take place Monday, July 20 from 1-7 p.m. with family receiving friends from 5-7 p.m. at Minnis Chapel in Ellinwood. Memorials are suggested to Ellinwood Community Church or Ellinwood Hospital Foundation in care of Minnis Chapel, PO Box 246, Ellinwood, KS 67526. Condolences to the family may be left at www.minnischapel.org.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Minnis Chapel
P.O. Box 246
Ellinwood, KS 67526
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, July 18, 2026
