Karen Sue Petty

Karen Sue Petty, 73, of Hornbeak passed away 8:30 p.m. Thursday, June 5, 2025, at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital.
Memorial services were conducted 3 p.m. Sunday in the chapel of Edmaiston Mosley Funeral Home. Dr. Vann Kissell officiated.
Karen was born October 10, 1951, in Tiptonville, daughter of the late Virgil Leduke and Mildred (Berry) Baltezor.
As a child, Karen learned the value of working by helping her Granny with various jobs around Blue Bank Park. Later she became a bus girl, cleaning off tables at the local dining rooms, before becoming a waitress. Karen had worked at nearly all of the dining rooms but most of her time was at Boyette’s, where she was employed for nearly 25 years.
While working as a waitress, Karen married Teddy Petty, had three children, and decided to pursue a nursing career. Karen became an LPN and spent 25 years as a nurse at The Woman’s Clinic in Union City. During retirement, Karen took a weekend nursing job at Discovery Park of America, where she made many friends whom she grew to love.
In addition to loving spending time with her grandchildren, Karen and Teddy routinely took two to three cruises a year along with vacationing to Florida and other places.
Karen also traveled with her four soul mates, Malinda Cunningham, Theresa Barnett, Kim Emery and Cathy Cunningham. Most of the time Karen would plan their trips. The ladies made their last trip to New York City in October 2024 where they got to meet Hoda Kotb from The Today Show. Karen was a member of Troy First Baptist in Troy. She was a volunteer with The Bridge ministry.
She is survived by her husband, Teddy Petty of Hornbeak; two daughters, Keri Lynn Dunn of Hornbeak and Kelly Watts and husband Jody of Trimble; one son, T.J. Petty and wife Jill of Hornbeak; four grandchildren, Ian Hurst and Lily Grace Petty, both of Hornbeak, Raven Dunn of Nashville and Samantha Gregory of Trimble; two sisters, Janice Arnett of Paducah, Kentucky, and Doris Cochran and husband Joe of Samburg; and two brothers, James Baltezor and Duke Baltezor and wife Nina, all of Tiptonville.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Virgil Leduke Baltezor and Mildred (Berry) Baltezor; and one sister, Rita Reed.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to The Bridge of West Tennessee, P.O. Box 1208, Union City, TN 38281; or The Outside Inn, P.O. Box 631, Troy, TN 38260.

The Messenger Online/6.9.25