Apr 28, 2021

Karen Franks Lavery, 52, of Morgantown, W.Va., formerly of Nemacolin, passed away at 6:15 p.m. Monday, April 26, 2021, in her home. She was born December 24, 1968, in Silver Spring, Md., a daughter of Jonnie A. Vogini Franks of Nemacolin and the late Wayne C. Franks.

Karen was a 1986 graduate of Carmichaels Area High School and attended West Virginia Junior College. She was a member of the St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Masontown.

Karen worked as a supervisor quality improvement specialist for Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and was also a former coding instructor for Ross Medical in Morgantown. She was a member of the American Academy of Professional Coders, the Office Managers Association and the National Health Career Association.

Surviving, in addition to her mother, are a son, Nathan W. Lavery of Smithfield; a daughter, Akira Lillii-Roode at home; two sisters, Kimberly A. Tedrow of Nemacolin and Kelly M. Tedrow of Carmichaels; nieces and nephews, who were the light of her life, Charleigh, Talaysia, Cayleb and Anders Tedrow; a special aunt and uncle, Pitchie and Richard Biller of Huntington, W.Va.; her godfather, Uncle John Cunningham of Olney, Md.; her “adopted brother”, Matt Heater of Cheat Lake, W.Va.; and several cousins and special friends.

Deceased are her grandparents; a very special aunt, Mary Leveno; and her godmother, Linda Cunningham.

The family extends a special thanks to Dr. Auber and Dr. Lindsey and to the staff at 9 West at the J. W. Ruby Memorial Hospital.

Family and friends are welcome from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 29, in Yoskovich Funeral Home (724-966-5500), Martin J. Yoskovich, Funeral Director, 300 South Vine Street (Route 88), Carmichaels, where a blessing service will be held at 9:30 a.m. Friday, April 30, followed at 10 a.m. by a Mass of the Resurrection at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Masontown, with the Rev. William G. Berkey as celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Agnes Cemetery, Masontown.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the Sarcoma Foundation of America.

For additional information and to sign the guestbook, visit www.YoskovichFH.com.