Karen J. Ballowe, 45, Centerview, Mo., formerly of Independence and Grain Valley, died Wednesday, April 9, 2003, at the Western Missouri Medical Center, Warrensburg, Mo.

Mrs. Ballowe was born July 19, 1957, in Sugar Creek, the daughter of Paul Rice and Carol Richardson Rice. She married Greg Ballowe on Aug. 20, 1976, in Independence. She was a 1975 graduate of Truman High School, Independence. She had worked for Lake City Ammunition from 1988 to 1994. She moved from Grain Valley to Centerview in 1996. She became a member of the Friendship Baptist Church of Holden, Mo., and a foster parent in Johnson County, Mo.

Her survivors include her husband, Greg Ballowe of the home; four sons, Chris Ballowe, Oak Grove, J.J. Ballowe, Anthony Ballowe, both of Centerview and Reno Ballowe, Morgantown, W.Va.; two daughters, Keisha J. Ballowe, Warrensburg, and Ann Marie Ballowe, Hawaii; her parents, Paul and Carol Rice, Independence; a brother, Steve Rice and a sister, Sherry Hammond, both of Independence; maternal grandmother, Maude Richardson, Independence; two grandchildren; and a great-grandson.

Services will be 2 p.m. Sunday at the Sweeney-Phillips & Holdren Funeral Home, Warrensburg. Burial will be in Centerview Cemetery. Friends may call from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Show-Me Christian Youth Home of LaMonte and may be left at the funeral home, 617 N. Magurie, Warrensburg, Mo. 64093.

Friday, April 11, 2003
The Independence Examiner