"Those we love never truly leave us. There are things that death cannot touch." —Jack Thorne
Obituary
Karen Lynne Cramar passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 29th, in Texarkana, Texas at the age of 74. She was born in Beaumont, Texas to Milton Cramar and Mattie Belle (Allen) Cramar in 1951. Anyone who knew her remembers her smile, her tender disposition, and her spunky, short‑girl, “can‑do” attitude. Her family is certain that hundreds of people had their days brightened by her small talk and warmth; whether it was the cashiers who loved seeing her in their checkout lanes or strangers who left the store feeling as though they had made a new friend. Dozens of stray dogs found homes thanks to Karen’s unwavering efforts, and hundreds of students’ lives were shaped by Ms. Cramar’s care and dedication as a special education teacher.
At South Park High School in Beaumont, Karen played violin in the orchestra and was a proud Greeniedear. She continued her musical talent at Lamar University, where she played first chair in the orchestra. A chance encounter on the very first day at Lamar University with a shy fellow freshman sitting on a bench led to marriage and motherhood the following year, when Karen had their daughter, Hope. Years later, Karen remarried and welcomed her son, Trey.
Karen spent much of her life as a single mother, yet still earned her Bachelor of Science in Teaching at the age of 36. Her children remember their grandfather watching Karen's graduation with tears of pride streaming down his face as Karen became the first person in her family to graduate from college.
She called many places “home,” including Pirmasens, Germany; Houston, Texas; Crestview Hills, Kentucky; and Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Karen's final decades were spent in Texarkana, teaching special education in New Boston and later in Maud.
Children, grandchildren, and her beloved dogs were Karen’s greatest joys. Her passion for animals was such that, at one point, she housed twelve rescued dogs when they had nowhere else to go.
Karen enjoyed her retirement in Texarkana, where she listened to music, sang, researched family history on Ancestry.com, and was often on the phone catching up with friends and family. In December 2024, a serious infection suddenly unmasked a prior diagnosis of vascular dementia. Although the mental decline was immediate, Karen lived peacefully, and in her words, “happy, happy, happy” throughout the last year of her life. In February 2026, she declined rapidly but remained in good spirits, even smiling when her family spoke to her in her final days. Karen passed away at Christian Care Nursing Home in Texarkana.
Karen is survived by her daughter, Hope Cammareri (John) of Aurora, Colorado; her son, Trey McNamee of Texarkana, Texas; and her grandsons, Tristen McNamee of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Mason McNamee of Texarkana, Texas, and Ryder Moran of New York, New York. She was preceded in death by her parents, Milton and Mattie Cramar; her younger sister, Kathy; and her niece, Rachel.
Her beautiful, ready smile is already deeply missed.
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Tri-State Cremation and Funeral Services obituary can be found here.
March 29, 2026
Dear Mom,
Tonight you left us and it doesn't seem real. Last week you were still able to smile and laugh and even talk. On Monday, you officially went on the hospice care pack to begin your final journey on earth.
So many of the good parts of me are because of you. You taught me how to be a strong, independent woman and I will always be grateful. You made mistakes so I could learn from them. You definitely passed on your love of dogs.
You were one of the kindest, friendliest people I ever knew. I am so glad that we had decades of true friendship before dementia stepped in. Even after, our conversations still brought me so much joy. Your ability to discern sarcasm and wit remained strong and you laughed at everything with me. You never forgot who your family was and that was a great blessing to us.
Trey and I visited with you this evening. We let you know that it was time to go; not that it was OK to go but that it was finally time. We watched your body struggle and shrink and we wanted your slow death to end. We told you that you had a mom and dad waiting for you and that you could have as many dogs in heaven as you'd like. We aren't sure if that's true but our fingers are crossed. We told you we would be OK and that you didn't need to worry about us.
I love you always, Mom.
Hope
p.s.-it's highly unlikely that you'll read posts on a digital memorial page to you from heaven, although who knows? This is the digital age. :) Nonetheless, it feels cathartic to write this on the very night that our lives are changing. I know that you'd be overjoyed to know that this page will link to your page on ancestry.com so that generations of family in the future will be able to read this tribute to you.
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After my husband, Boyd, passed away in Dec 2021, she was a great comfort to me. She was a FB “Friend” of Boyd’s, both being SPHS Greenies. He graduated in 1965 so they never knew each other.
(I always FB friended any woman who he friended.)
After Boyd passed, she called to offer condolences & we’d talk for 2-3 hours. Either she would call or I’d call her, maybe once every 2-3 months or so & still we’d talk for an hour or more.
I’m sorry that we didn’t keep it up after a while.
She was always very proud of her Hope.
My sympathies to her family & friends.
May the grace of our Lord bless her in heaven & embrace her family & friends in his loving arms.
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