To know Karen, "Coo Coo", Memah…was to Love Her.

Karen Irene Warner Smalser, 59, of 236 Taylor Avenue, Wyalusing PA, passed away at Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre on November 2, 2015, after a long, courageous battle with diabetes and congestive heart failure.

Karen was born at the old Tyler Memorial Hospital in Meshoppen on January 29, 1956, to Romeyn L. Warner of Laceyville and the late Shirley Repsher Gray.

Karen graduated from Wyalusing Valley High School with the Class of 1974 and was a proud member of the Reunion Crew that put together lots of reunions and fun for a class that she loved dearly and they loved her enthusiasm and spirit. Her class nicknamed her Warttoad and most of her classmates still called her that beloved nickname.

She was also lovingly called "Coo Coo" by her family for many years and later was dubbed "Aunt KK" by her beloved great nieces and nephews.

On June 29, 1985, Karen married John R. Smalser at the old Skinners Eddy United Methodist Church. They recently celebrated their 30th anniversary. When they were first married, they lived in Laceyville but later moved to Wyalusing to make their home.

Karen worked at various jobs throughout her life. For years, she worked at the old Betty's Diner, now known as Mark's Valley View, as a waitress where she got to know and love each of her customers. She was then employed by Taylor Packing, was in Home Health Care, babysat a lot of local kids in her home for many years, was a manager at the Dollar General Store in Wyalusing, and was a cafeteria worker in the Wyalusing Area School District. She also worked at the Wyalusing Personal Care Home, a job that she thrived at and enjoyed.

Karen and John were blessed with two daughters and she was the "spirit" of her children's sports world. Whether it be a basketball game, a soccer game, the band front, anything that her kids were involved in, she was there. She never missed a sporting event for her kids and became actively involved in the annual Lasagna Invitation Track Meet at the school, volunteering hours and hours to make sure things ran smoothly.

It was not unusual to find Karen working the concession stand, getting the crowd revved up for a game, showing up in her Granny Ram outfit to get everyone in a great mood or just chiding everyone that was there to make sure her "girls" on the floor heard that there were fans in the stands.

She was a favorite "mom" to so many kids throughout her daughter's school years and even after they graduated, it was still not uncommon to see everyone gathered at "Memah's" house. Karen would also dress up in her gorilla costume and grab some balloons and show up at the school to wish her daughters or their friends a Happy Birthday! She loved Halloween and created some awesome outfits for her daughters throughout the years.

Karen was a member of the Wyalusing Presbyterian Church, a 25 year member of the Eastern Star Meshoppen Chapter #70. She was also the Judge of Elections for the Wyalusing Borough.

Karen is survived, in addition to her husband and father, by her daughters, Tiffani and Donny Smalser Warner and Stefani Smalser, all of Laceyville. Her most beautiful treasures, besides her daughters, were her four beautiful granddaughters. Callee, Lacee and Mollee Warner and Chloie Commiskey, who lovingly called her Memah. She is also survived by her sister, Patti and Bruce Warner Tewksbury and her brother, Wade and Carol Heath Gray, all of Spring Hill. Her brother in law, Phil and Priscilla Smalser and her sister in law, Pat Smalser all of Ovid, NY. Also surviving are her nieces and nephews, Morgin and Jason Tewksbury Jones, Shay Tewksbury and Taylor Thomas, Scott and Brett Gray, Carrie, Rob, Jeremy, Amanda, and Dylan Smalser. She is survived by her uncle, Carlton "Cocky" and Rose Repsher of Wyalusing and an aunt, Jody and Jim Sands of Laceyville. In addition she survived by her great nieces and nephews, who each hold many special memories with Aunt KK. She also leaves behind her loving cousins, her church family and her many friends.

Karen was predeceased by her mother, Shirley Repsher Gray on January 3, 2000, her stepfather, Larrison "Larry" Gray on January 17, 1993, her maternal grandparents, Carlton "Dutch" and Agnes Repsher, her paternal grandparents, George and Irene Warner, her father and mother in law, Robert and Lucille Smalser, her brother in law, Lloyd Smalser.

A Service of Witness to the Resurrection will be celebrated on Thursday, November 5, 2015, at 11:00am from the Wyalusing Presbyterian Church, with the Reverend Dr. Barry Ballard of the church officiating. Interment will follow at the Wyalusing Borough Cemetery. A viewing will be held on Wednesday, November 4, 2015 from 5:00-8:00pm, at the Sheldon Funeral Home, 155 Church Street, Wyalusing. Eastern Star Services will be conducted at 7:45 PM on Wednesday evening, by the members of the Eastern Star Meshoppen Chapter #70.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to all the doctors and nurses at Robert Packer Hospital, 6th Floor and 8th Floor NW.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Karen's honor to the American Diabetes Foundation, 1701 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311 or on their website www.diabetes.org.

Online condolences may be made at www.sheldonfuneralhomes.com.