Karen Renee Thigpen Hylton, of Midwest City, Oklahoma died Thursday, January 17, 2019 surrounded by family and friends. She was 65 years old. Karen was born on November 19, 1953 in Waco, Texas to Harriet Norris Thigpen and the late Matthew W. Thigpen.
The U.S. Air Force family arrived in Oklahoma in 1971. Karen attended Rogers Middle School and graduated from Star Spencer High School before earning a bachelor of science in psychology from the University of Oklahoma. She worked for the State of Oklahoma in the Department of Human Services for more than 30 years and retired as the Program Manager in 2016.
She served on the board of directors for FOCIS Counseling Services, Inc., and the Human Res Committee for the Dale Rogers Training Center. She was an active member of the Tinker Air Force Base Chapel choir and participated in many of their bible studies. Karen was also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
Karen is survived by her mother, Harriett Norris Thigpen; her daughter, Najah-Amatullah Hylton (granddaughter, Cielo Emersyn Hylton); her siblings, Pamela Eileen Thigpen and Michael Wayne Thigpen (Janice Thigpen), her nieces, Amber Williams (Loudon Williams, Nathaniel, Lincoln), Ashere Thigpen (Analise), Autumn Stetson (Neal Stetson, Maurice, Abriele); her nephew, Matthew Thigpen (Sarah, Macie, Eliana, Sadie) and loving aunts, uncles, cousins and a host of other relatives. She is survived by her closest friends Linda D. Brown, Vickie Wilson, Daisy Santos, Angela Thomas, and William Loftis. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made in Karen’s honor to the Dale Rogers Training Center (2501 N. Utah, Oklahoma City, OK, 73107).
A memorial service for Karen, officiated by Chaplain Greg Redden, will be held at Ford Funeral Service (305 S. Sooner Road, Midwest City) on Saturday, January 26, 2019 at 1 p.m. A repast will follow at 2:30 at the Midwest City Community Center located at 200 N. Midwest Blvd, Midwest City 73110. Najah and Harriet would also like to thank the extended family, friends, and Tinker Air Force Base Chapel family for all of their prayers, love and assistance. Karen’s family would like to also extend our heartfelt thanks the doctors, nurses, and hospital staff at SSM St. Anthony Hospital and the Stevenson Cancer Center, as well as Ford Funeral Service.
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