Karen Jane Widener

February 14, 1943 – August 16, 2025

Last night at 8:36PM, we lost our beloved mother, Karen, at the age of 82. Let me tell you a little about her.

At a whopping 4’-10” and 90 lbs soaking wet, she was a force to reckon with. She was the epitome of the cliché, “Dynamite comes in small packages.” She graduated from Banks High School in Birmingham, Alabama, but never went to college. Even so, she was one of the wisest people I’ve ever known.

In her younger days, she was a dental assistant. Later, she was manager of several Eckerd Drugs stores. I say “several’ because she was the one corporate sent in to “clean things up.” She did. Store after store. One time, someone complained about people bringing their pets into one of the stores. Her boss at corporate told her she couldn’t allow that. She explained to him that if she had to allow people to come in who reeked from not having showered in days and were covered in lice, then any perfectly groomed pets were more than welcome in “her” store at any time. She then said, “So you can just kiss it.” His reply was, “Yes, Ma’am.”

She was married three times but essentially raised three boys alone. One (Jonny, the oldest) served a career in the Air Force. Another (Jeff, in the middle) did a little time in the Army, then later ran his own business in the repair, construction, and installation of mortuary equipment. The third (Jason, the youngest), is a law enforcement officer. Mama liked to say that if anyone messed with her, she’d sic her boys on them. She’d clarify by saying, “One will bomb you, one will arrest you, and the other will bury you.” And do you know what? We would have done it. Why? Because Mama said so.

I mentioned how wise she was. I say that because she once gave me some extremely valuable advice. I followed it too many times to count, and I’ve also lost count of the number of doors that opened for me simply because I did what my Mama told me to do. She said, “Sometimes life grants you a rare opportunity. When that happens, the best thing to do is grab hold with both hands, and even with your teeth, if necessary, and don’t let go.”

Thank you, Mama, for the advice, for giving us life, and for being the best dang Mama any boy ever had.

We love you now and forever.

Jonny, Jeff, and Jason

There are no services planned at this time.