Karen Lynne Smith

Mrs. Karen Lynne Smith, 61, passed away Thursday, March 26, 2026. Karen was born April 17, 1964, in East Hampton, New York.

Mrs. Smith was raised in Highlands, NC until the 8th grade before moving to live on the family farm in Franklin, NC. She would then spend the remainder of her life in the Cowee Community. Karen worked at Walmart for many years where she managed the shoe and jewelry departments. She was a very artistic person as she loved to draw and had great taste in decoration, loving all beautiful things. She also enjoyed crosswords and other puzzles, as well as thrift shopping, with her great eye for special vintage antiques. A lover of all animals, she also adopted dogs. Mrs. Smith enjoyed nature and the outdoors; Karen had a green thumb and was very proud of her blueberry and blackberry bushes.

Survivors include her husband, John Smith of Franklin, NC; her sons, Spencer Ford and Dillon Ford of Franklin, NC; her mother, Claudette Leatherman Dillard of Franklin, NC; her sister, Melody Holeman (Delwin Holeman) of Athens, GA; and her nieces and nephew, Claudia Etheridge, John Holeman and Cate Holeman.

A Celebration of Life service will be held from 3:00 - 5:00 PM Sunday, March 29, 2026, at Bryant-Grant Funeral Home.

Online condolences may be made at www.bryantgrantfuneralhome.com.

Bryant-Grant Funeral Home and Crematory is honored to serve the Smith family.