Karen M. (Wallery) Beaver

KAREN M. BEAVER (nee Wallery), age 80.  Dearest daughter of the late John and Mary (nee Meininger) Wallery. Beloved mother of Lora Winger, Lisa Matula (Val), Rick Winger (Kelly), and Matthew Beaver (Shane). Cherished grandmother of Emily Rosine (Andrew), John Matula, Kristen Winger, and Allison Winger. 

Dear sister of Kenneth Wallery (Ann), Kahler Wallery (Carol), and Kathleen King (Bill). Also survived by beloved cousins, nieces and nephews, and her dear friend and neighbor, Sandy.

An Ashland girl through and through, Karen shared stories of going to Sanitary Dairy with her friends after school, watching movies at Schine’s Ashland Theater, and shopping at the downtown stores. She loved living close to her cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents, and spent many happy hours with them. She learned how to cook and bake from her mother and grandmother, and she often made family recipes for her children, grandchildren, and other family members. The Wallery and Meininger families will recognize sour cream twists, nut sticks and apricot bars among other favorites.  Karen’s pies were legendary. She perfected her skill when she made pies for the Pear Tree Restaurant. At Thanksgiving she would make over 100 pumpkin pies to be sold at the restaurant. She won multiple ribbons for her pie entries at the Ashland County Fair. At various times she worked at Weiss Family Pharmacy, Archway Bakery, the A.L. Garber Company, and Samaritan Hospital.

Karen found her true professional calling when she became a secretary for the United States Air Force, first at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland and then at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton. She was well-loved and well-respected by both military and civilian personnel and truly excelled at her job. She was awarded Secretary of the Quarter several times and ultimately Secretary of the Year. Upon retiring from Wright Patterson, Karen returned to Ashland to help her mother, Mary, with assisted living and enjoyed reconnecting with the family.  Karen also volunteered at Samaritan Hospital in the gift shop and made several very good friends.

The light of her life were her children and grandchildren. Whether she was baking Christmas cookies to share with everyone, traveling to historic places with Lora, attending doll shows and Marie Osmond appearances with Lisa, talking on the phone with Rick or Emily as they made their way home from work, watching reruns of The Carol Burnett and I Love Lucy tv shows with Matt, attending one of John’s high school plays, celebrating Alli’s graduation, or visiting with Kristen during her 80th birthday party, as long as she was with her kids she was happy. She demonstrated her love in so many ways: sending loving and supportive notes to Kelly during her cancer journey, making Val homemade pies, catching up with Shane and Andrew during family visits, and always remembering everyone on their birthdays and at Christmas time. Yours was a life well-lived and it won’t be the same without you, Mom. We promise to continue your love and celebration of family. We love you and we will miss you every day.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions to St. Edward Catholic Church, Ashland, Ohio, and Shriners Hospitals for Children.

The family requests no lilies due to allergy concerns.

Mass of Christian Burial, St. Edward Catholic Church, 501 Cottage Street, Ashland, Ohio on Thursday, April 25 2024 at 12:00 PM. Mass can be viewed online at this link: St. Edward Church - Live Stream

The family will receive friends at 11:00 AM at the church.  Final resting place Ashland County Memorial Park.

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