Karen Jean (Blaylock) Debus, 84, passed away April 10, 2024 peacefully at her home with family by her side.
Karen was born in Jefferson, Iowa to Karl & Phyllis (Paulsen) Blaylock on September 4, 1939.
She was the 2nd of 4 children. She and her family lived in Grand Junction, Iowa until 1949 when they moved to Torrington, Wyoming for health reasons with her mother. Her mother passed away on Memorial day in 1952, Karen was 11 going on 12.
Karen was preceded in death by her husband Larry, her parents, her father-in-law and mother- in-law, her brother, Phillip Blaylock, sister and brother-in-law Karla and Harv Bartel, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Vern and Joyce Debus, brothers-in-law Fritz Huckfledt and Robert Foster, daughters-in-law Laurie (Stafford) Debus and Nancy (Beiber) Debus, granddaughter Rylee Mae Bedient as well as other family members.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 4, at11:00 a.m. at the Bates-Gould Chapel with Pastor Russell Saito officiating. Cremation has already taken place and inurnment will follow in the Alliance Cemetery.
Memorials can be made to the family at P.O. Box 77, Alliance NE 69301, Brookstone Home Health and Hospice at 1335 M. Street, Suite 100 Gering NE 69341.
Online condolences may be left at www.batesgould.com.
She met Larry Debus when she was 12 years old and they dated all through high school. She graduated in 1957 from Torrington High School. Then they were married June 1, 1957 in Torrington, WY. To this union 3 children were born, Brian, Brent and Suzanne. Larry and Karen lived in Torrington until 1967. While in Torrington Karen worked at Bell Telephone Company, Torrington Telegram and the hospital. They lived in Morrill, Nebraska then moved to Kansas for Larry’s work purposes in the Fall of 1968. They moved back to Northwest Morrill in the spring of 1970. In the fall of 1973 they moved to Alliance and in late 1974, early 1975 Larry and Karen bought their own plumbing business creating Alliance Plumbing & Heating which was located at 504 Flack. She worked at their plumbing business until the early 80s. She also worked as a PBX operator at Box Butte General Hospital, at the Alliance Times Herald, Montgomery Ward!
Sears and then did daycare in her home for many children including all of her grandchildren and some of the great grandchildren.
She enjoyed camping, gardening and decorating for Christmas. Her grandchildren were her pride and joy, she enjoyed decorating her entire house, upstairs and downstairs with all of their help every year.
She is survived by her children Brian Debus, Brent Debus, and Suzanne (Roger) Bedient all of Alliance, her daughter-in-love, Lora Young of Omaha, her grandchildren Paige Debus, Kyle (Katelynn), Justin and Jessica Debus of Gering, AJ (Ammie) Bedient of Alliance, Kaycee (Katie) Bedient Mosley of Lincoln, Cherity Bedient of Scottsbluff, Evin Bedient of Alliance, granddaughter-in-love, Amanda (Nick) Klever of St. Paul Minnesota, great grandchildren Leah Johnson, Anastasia Looser of Alliance, Lincoln and Jenna Debus of Gering, Steven Long (Bedient), Addisyn and Brecken Bedient of Alliance, baby girl Klever due in June 2024, her sister, Paula Foster of Alliance, sister-in-law, Nancy Huckfeldt of Sheridan Wyoming, and numerous nieces and nephews.