Karen Faye Foster

Karen Faye Foster, 68, of Albany, KY, passed away at her daughter’s home in Westport, IN, on November 9, 2026. Karen was born in Albany, KY, on September 3, 1958, to Johnny Foster and Wilma Lorene (Woodrum) Dean.
Karen was a hippie at heart and a good Christian woman who loved life and lived it with a personality all her own. She found joy in the simple things, whether it was listening to music, dancing, fishing, spending time outdoors, or soaking up the sunshine (she was solar-powered!). She loved fiercely, laughed loudly, and had a heart full of love for those around her. She had a special passion for helping others and never missed an opportunity to show kindness. She enjoyed gardening and tending to her flowers, and had a love for Coca-Cola, the color purple, butterflies, and all things tie-dye. But of all the things she loved, nothing compared to being a grandma. It was her favorite job in life, and her grandchildren brought her a kind of happiness that nothing else could replace. Karen’s vibrant spirit, big personality, and the love she shared so freely will be remembered by all who knew her.
Karen is preceded in death by her parents; her ex-husband, Edgar Nichols; the father who raised her, Dester Dean; her brother, Billy Gayle Tallent; and her sisters, Lela Ann Cross and Wilma Gaye Melton.
Survived by her daughters, Mandaline “Mandee” Wood (Benjamin, her favorite son-in-law) and Melanie Nichols; her grandchildren, Jordan Huntington, Jessie Huntington, and Peyton McFarland; and her siblings Michelle Conrad (Jacob) and Johnny Richard Tallent (Freda), and many special nieces and nephews along with a very special aunt, Kathy White.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, November 21, 2026, at Jewell-Rittman Funeral Home 3588 25th St Columbus, IN 47203 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. A memorial service will also be held in Albany, KY, at a later date.
Family has requested that attendees wear purple and/or butterflies in honor of Karen.
Memorial donations may be made to the National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation.