Karla Kaye Black
Karla Kaye Black, 84, of Shelbina, Mo. passed away Saturday, January 6 while being treated at Hannibal Regional Hospital.
Karla was born October 29, 1939 in Evansville, Indiana to Karl and Mignonne Kilian. She was baptized October 14, 1951. She was married to Jerry Patterson and later Dennis Black, both deceased.
Karla is survivedby her sister, Susie (Bob) Karlson of Batavia, OH. She is also survived by her four children: Stephen (Jennifer) Patterson of Shelbina, Mo., Devin (Kim) Black of Perry, Mo., Karen (Steve) Wright of Columbia, Mo., and Keith (Blanche) Patterson of Columbia, Mo. Her grandchildren include Matthew Patterson (Columbia, Mo.); Michael (Madelyn) Patterson of Wentzville, Mo., Miranda Patterson, attending Maryville University; and Faith Wright of Raleigh, N.C.
Karla was also preceded in death by her parents, brother, Wendel Kilian, and an infant son, Scott Jerome Patterson.
Karla can best be described as a “tireless worker with a servant’s heart” – she enjoyed serving others and worked hard all her life… setting a “high bar” for her family and big shoes to fill.
At 13 years old, Karla was bussing tables at the local café. By 16, she was working at two different clothing stores in downtown Hannibal.
She loved playing badminton in high school and played basketball in church league at Fifth Street Baptist. She always lamented there was no high school basketball for girls at that time. Unfortunately, her athletic skills skipped a generation! But she was greatly rewarded by her grandkid’s talents in football, basketball, baseball, softball, tennis, and gymnastics.
Karla attended Hannibal-LaGrange College and got an associate degree in Secretarial Skills. Karla married Jerry Patterson on June 2, 1961. She always joked about having to interrupt one of Jerry’s poker games one Saturday night so he could take her to the hospital for the birth of her first, and favorite son, Stephen!
Karla married Dennis Black in 1974, moved to the farm, and raised four children: Stephen, Devin, Karen, and Keith. While driving trucks and tractors wasn’t her highest skillset, she made the best farm meals with peach cobbler being one of her specialties.
In 1987 Karla purchased a flower shop in Perry, Mo. and served the Perry community for nearly 30 years with Karla B’s Flowers. She loved her work and loved the patrons she served, working holidays, weekends, and late nights.
Following a mild heart attack in 2017, Karla moved to Salt River Community Care and proceeded to tease and antagonize the staff and her personal assistant and friend, Dayna Power, with her dry humor and snarky attitude.
Karla’s favorite pastime and driving force has always been attending her grandkids athletic events. While she never officially “coached”, she always had plenty to say on the ride home from ballgames! Sometimes it was about her players… sometimes it was about the coaches! She was so blessed to enjoy some of the best times in South Shelby history by being able to attend State Championships in football and basketball!
As Karla’s son writing this, I’m super proud of my Mom. She was a warrior… she battled through tough times and never quit. She worked hard and taught her kids the value of working hard and serving others. She was a devout Christian woman who performed many roles in her hometown churches of Fifth Street Baptist and Perry Baptist. As her health became challenging late in life, she stayed strong and battled as a “Warrior” – never giving up!
Today she is with her Father in Heaven and catching up with all those who went ahead of her. Good job Mom! We are all better because of you! We strive to leave a legacy for our families like you!
Funeral Services will be held at 11 am on Saturday, January 13, 2024, at Greening-Eagan-Hayes Funeral Home in Shelbina, Mo. with Mitchell Seaton officiating. Burial will follow the service at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Hannibal, Mo. Visitation will be held from 9-11 a.m., Saturday morning, at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the Salt River Community Care or Neighbors Helping Neighbors.
