Karen Creager

Karen Creager was born February 11, 1949, in Cincinnati, Ohio to the late David and Peggy Creager. The Creager family moved to Beckley, WV in 1961. Karen graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School class of 1967 and graduated with a degree in Recreation from West Virginia University class of 1971.

Her family left behind to cherish her memories and creations are siblings: Kolleen (Steve) Finch, Klaye (Larry) Lilly, David (Rosalie) Creager. Mark (Cindy) Creager, Kandy (Mike) Kozar. Nieces/nephews: Jennifer (Tony) Merendino, Dr. Chris (Lana) Finch, Clayton (Dr. Christa) Lilly, Dr. Meghan (Dr. Ashish) Khanna, Dr. Kelley (Brock) Wamsley, David Ryan (Kristen) Creager, Kate (Adam) Repass, Matt (Juliette) Creager, Karri (Cash) Buzzo, Thomas (girlfriend Hannah Davis) Kozar. Great nieces/nephews Max Finch, Ira Lilly, Daksh and Uma Khanna, Kenidi, Clayton, and Kyle Creager, Addy, Kyndall and Reese Repass, Krickett Buzzo, Claire Kozar. Not by blood, but by mutual agreement of all the above parties...The entire Tucker family, Eric, Stacey, Caitlin (Dylan), Rose, Ryan, and Emery. You have officially become a part of our family!!

Karen was a pioneer for women designing, building, and selling kitchens for Gray Lumber. She also sold and installed carpet and wood stoves. Karen was the owner of Creager Creations where she painted, wallpapered and tiled many homes in the Beckley area. In her later years you could reach Karen regularly by calling Creager Tire, where she worked with her brother Mark and her nephew Matt. Karen was the owner and artist in residence of Stained Classe. She created exquisite stained-glass pieces, sharing her talent and love with many students. Her special buddy Conner Muncy, learned and assisted with numerous artistic projects. Her stained-glass girls, Larah, Lori, Tammy, and Penny Sue will be keeping the shop open to continue her legacy.

As a three-time cancer survivor, Karen's favorite actor, John Wayne, would say "Courage is being scared to death-but saddling up anyway. Everybody has to take a few punches. You flop, and then you get up again. Well, there's just some things a man can't run away from."

Karen left this life on September 17, 2026, and joined her mother, Peggy (for her 103rd birthday) and her father David Creager.

Karen has always loved dogs. Her first dog was named Seventy Dollars (a name chosen by her when she asked her dad how much the dog cost.) She always wanted a horse and finally got one, Bourbon, followed by Dusty, and a burro named Squeaky. Her dog love continued with her beloved dogs, Abby, Moe, Chase, Chance, Kasper and Jake. Karen spent countless hours with the Tucker family farming chickens, pigs, and cows, always saying no to goats! She insisted on a yearly garden, depending on the year it varied in size. With her hip and knee issues she was the best garden supervisor around.

As John Wayne would say, "I don't like quitters, especially when they're not good enough to finish what they start."

John Wayne said, "My church has been the mountain and solitude. No doors at all." Karen was involved in numerous activities at St. Francis de Sales, but most notably the Lenten Fish Frys of which she chaired for many years. Her Fish Fry Family will miss her greatly, as will the many people who enjoyed the meals each week. Karen also organized the St Francis de Sales Church Festival. Karen did a "mountain" of work around her church, laying the tile floor in DeSales Hall, refurbishing the stations of the cross, and refinishing the pews on the "old side" of the church. Her final project, last Christmas, was repainting the Nativity statues by hand.

She has left us, but not without reminders of her talents and dedication to her church, family, friends, and people she never met.

Her High School senior quote, "Ever true, kind and sweet, industrious too, and hard to beat." Seems to be a very fitting description for our beloved Karen.

Karen chose to be cremated and placed at the Saint Sebastian Cemetery in Beckley, WV. Visitation with the family, funeral mass, and services to be held at St Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 614 S Oakwood Ave, Beckley, WV, Saturday, September 26, 2026. Visitation begins at 10 am, followed by a funeral mass at 11 am.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St Francis de Sales Catholic Church 614 S Oakwood Ave, Beckley, WV 25801 (https://giving.myamplify.io//app/giving/ncs-1364) or Daily Living with Father Chapin PO Box 339, Nitro, WV 25143.