Mrs. Karen Peters Nunnally: Obituary

Obituaries

Karen Peters Nunnally was born January 22, 1955 and passed away on May 13, 2015. It was not unusual to join Tom and Karen Nunnally for a mid-morning cup of coffee or a late afternoon glass of wine, to sit on their porch talking and have a huge rooster jump on the table and look around as if to say, “Hey guys, what’s going on.” You might walk in the driveway and run into a turtle that was a favorite pet of their grandson Canaan; or walk in the house and be greeted by Hershel and Georgette, their two French bulldogs. Of course there was the beagle, the Chihuahua, and other critters that may have been invited in. Animals have always played a big part of their lives.

Naturally they deeply loved their grandchildren Mikala and Canaan. Tom spent hours with Mikala building a small chariot for a school project. The chariot was to be powered by a mouse. Unfortunately the project ended with the demise of the mouse. Karen got Canaan a toy John Deere tractor and Canaan battered the John Deere slogan saying that “Nothing runs like a Deere.” In truth nothing runs like Canaan. He defines the term “whirling dervish.” Karen took Mikala shopping and stayed up on all the current fads in order to be in “sync” with the junior high female mind.

They first began visiting this area in the early 1970’s and came permanently when Tom retired as a Sergeant Major of the United States Marine Corps Logistical Station in Albany, Georgia. That is where they met. At the time Karen was in charge of base housing supervising over two hundred other employees. While running base housing Karen saw a better and more inexpensive way of doing things. She put her plan in place and saved the Marine Coups thousands of dollars a year. Nobody seemed to notice and Karen had no need to say, “Hey, look at what I did!” To call attention to herself was not in Karen’s character.

Tom and Karen met and fell in love. For a tough Marine, Karen melted Tom’s heart. The second marriage for both, Tom brought one daughter into the marriage, Chantal Elaine Nunnally and Karen brought one son Cameron into the fold. Both were great parents to this blended family, a job not easily done. Once in Fannin County Tom became a butcher and eventually opened Enchanted Meats in Morganton which was known all over north Georgia for his great tasting and tender steaks. Karen was always at his side and perfected her own culinary gifts that were sold there as well. One recipe was a simple pimento cheese spread which now graces numerous food web sites in the northeast.

Karen suffered a most serious heart attack at her home on the evening on May 10. She was life-flighted to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga where she was placed on life support. As good as modern medicine is, it was not good enough to save her. She died during the afternoon on May 13, 2015.

Born and raised in Valdosta, Georgia Karen leaves three sisters, Elizabeth Teasley and Becky Wisenbater, both of Valdosta, Georgia and Ferris Bell of McDonough, Georgia. Karen had more friends than can be counted and the loss, particularly on our mountain is beyond description. As one close friend said of Karen, “She gave the air of simplicity yet at the same time was so full of life.” Mark Twain probably summed up life best when he wrote: What is joy without suffering? What is success without failure? What is win without loss? What is health without illness? You have to experience each if you are to appreciate the other. There is always going to be conflict. It is how you look at suffering, how you deal with it, That defines us.

So while we mourn Karen’s passing to the other side, we should keep in mind on our own beliefs and find peace in the knowledge that she is free of suffering and is soaring to new and wonderful heights that we can only imagine. So soar our wonderful and beautiful Karen and we will rest knowing that you will be there to greet us when we enter God’s kingdom.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 16, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. from the Akins of Blue Ridge Chapel with Min. Keith Ritchie officiating. Pallbearers will be Brent Warderg, Patrick Teasely, Cory Harper, Anthony Battaglia and Samuel Bell. Interment will follow in Concord Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Friday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.akinsfuneralhome.com. Akins Funeral Home of Blue Ridge is in charge of arrangements.

Back to Top