Karen LeAnn West

On Tuesday, July 20 2021, Karen LeAnn Buller West, loving wife of Roy (deceased), sister to John (Bev) Buller (deceased), mother to Laura West Stauffer, step mother to Matt West, and grandmother to Jacob and Adam Stauffer, passed away at the age of 80.

Karen (or LeAnn and many knew her) was born on January 25, 1941 in Lyons KS to Viola and John Buller. She graduated from the local high school (where her father was the superintendent, she loved to tell people) and went on to Colorado Women's College. Eventually she found herself in Chicago as a junior buyer at Marshall Field's. On a trip to Cleveland to visit her brother she sat next to a handsome man traveling home from a business trip. After a whirlwind courtship they got married in April and one year later they had their daughter.

Karen was very involved with the PTA and girl scouts at Laura's school. She was always engaged in many committees and social groups at her beloved Forest Hill Church. She was a member of the Chapter BW, Ohio since 1980. Karen served as an officer and President of the Chapter BW for many years.

When Roy became ill with Parkinson's she became his full time caretaker. She made sure he was well taken care of and that he always made it to his art classes or endless doctor's appointments. Of course his battle with Parkinson's meant she became a leader of the Parkinson Education Program (PEP) Northeast Region.

Entertaining was something she enjoyed! There was always an excuse to have a cookout, party, or just have a group of friends over. When she wasn't running a group or committee she loved watching basketball (Kansas University, any of Laura's teams, and the grandsons teams were her favorites). In fact, she never missed a game of Laura's, including all of the college home games! Karen LeAnn was known as a loyal, devoted, gracious, and caring person.

Something she always sang to her grandsons when they were young "Rock Chalk… Jayhawk… KU". No better words can be used to sum up her winning in life.

A Memorial Service will be held at the Stauffer/West's home in the front yard under a tent (in true West style) on July 31st at 11:30AM. Lunch to be served following the service. Contact Kevin Stauffer for address. Donations can be made to PEO's Educational Loan Fund here. Use code BW/OH when asked for the chapter code. P.E.O. Educational Loan Fund (ELF) is a revolving loan fund established in 1907 to lend money to qualified women students to assist them in securing a higher education.