Karen Marie Heil Oates

Funeral services for Karen Marie Heil Oates, 57, of Lufkin will be held Thursday, December 13, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. in the Carroway Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Richard Owen officiating. Cremation arrangements will be under the direction of Carroway Funeral Home.

Mrs. Oates was born December 22, 1960 in Gonzales, Texas to Florence (Fitzgerald) and Royce Heil, and died Friday, December 7, 2018 in Houston.

Mrs. Oates had resided in Lufkin most of her life. She was a Registered Nurse in the Cardiac Surgery Unit at both Woodland Heights Medical Center and Memorial Health Systems of East Texas for more than 20 years, and was a founding owner of A Caring Touch Home Health Care. She was very dedicated to her job and was devoted to her family. She was a loving wife, mother, daughter, and sister. In the last few years when Karen’s health was declining, her husband Terry was her source of comfort and devoted caregiver. Karen enjoyed traveling, camping, and fishing. She was of the Assembly of God faith.

Survivors include her husband of 42 years, Terry Oates of Lufkin; sons, Michael Oates and wife Lisa, Jarod Oates, and Joshua Oates and fiancée Julianna, all of Lufkin; grandchildren, Micah Oates, Damian Oates, Zoe Oates, and Dallas Oates; parents, Royce and Florence Heil of Lufkin; sister, Kathy Hamilton and husband Doug of Lufkin, sisters-in-law, Glenda and husband Dr. Jerry Spinks, Nelda and husband Kenneth Johnson, all of Lufkin; brother-in-law, Bobby Wayne and wife Janice Oates of Lufkin; special friends, Connie Green and Sylvia Dhone, both of Lufkin; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her father-in-law and mother-in-law, J.D. and Bobbie Oates; sister-in-law, Brenda Oates Buster; and grandparents, Adolph and Ruby Heil and Eugene and Hazel Fitzgerald.

Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Jerry Spinks, Kenneth Johnson, Doug Hamilton, Bobby Wayne Oates, Jonathan Hicks, Damian Oates, Dallas Oates, and James Hicks.

The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday evening at the funeral home.

Memories and condolences may be added, and live webcasting of the services may be viewed at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.