Obituary of Karen Marie Murphy
Karen Marie Sweet was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan on July 28, 1952. She was one of seven children born to Carl Sweet and Beulah (Bodine) Sweet. Karen graduated from Monroe High School in Monroe, Michigan with the Class of 1970.
For more than twenty years she was a dedicated employee of Jefferson Smurfit, later Union Camp, paper mill. On March 8, 1996 Karen wed the love of her life, Gregory Murphy, with a simple ceremony in Toledo, Ohio. The couple enjoyed twenty-eight years of marriage.
Karen always had a special place in her heart for animals. As a young girl, she cherished her ponies “Silver” and “Chief”. Karen and her husband routinely traveled along with their horses. They took several trips to Jamestown, Tennessee with their converted horse trailer, complete with living quarters. They also escaped many cold Michigan winters in Lecanto, Florida with their equine companions.
As a teenager, Karen began learning dog obedience techniques. By the dawn of the new Millenium, she fulfilled a lifelong dream with the opening of “Karen’s Canines Training and Boarding Kennels”. Over the years, she trained thousands of dogs and taught others to instruct their own pets with classes through Monroe and Bedford Adult Education. Karen also shared her love of canines with others through visits to hospitals and nursing homes alongside her therapy dogs. The kennel was home to many other animals including rabbits and many exotic animals including camels, lemurs, and emus.
Karen’s varied interests included boating and dancing. She bravely took to the sky in a powered parachute, a type of aircraft comprised of an open fuselage attached to landing gear with a motor and a parachute for lift. Most recently, Karen had taken up solving jigsaw puzzles. She had completed hundreds of puzzles and always purchased them brand new, in a sealed box, to ensure she wasn’t missing any pieces! Always bubbly and outgoing, Karen pursued her passions and never passed on an opportunity to share her love of animals and adventure with others.
Karen Marie Murphy, age 71, of Carleton, Michigan, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday; February 20, 2024. Her passing was preceded by her parents and three brothers: Gary Sweet, Keith Sweet, and Jeffrey Sweet.
To cherish her memory, Karen leaves her husband: Greg Murphy; three sisters: Janet (Douglas) Crego, LeeAnn (Marcus) Wells, and Marilyn (Rick) Angerer; many nieces and nephews; several great nieces and nephews; and beloved canine companions: “Bob”, a three-year-old French Bulldog, and “Jett”, a seven-year-old German Shepherd.
No public services are planned at this time. Karen’s care has been entrusted to Merkle Funeral Service, North Monroe; 2442 North Monroe Street, Monroe, Michigan 48162 (734) 384-5185. Cremation has taken place at the on-site crematory, Covenant Cremation, of Erie, Michigan.
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