Karen Plott

(From Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary)

Karen Sue (Proctor) Plott, 59, of Joplin, Missouri, departed this life on Sunday evening, July 29, 2018, in the comfort of her home surrounded by her loving family, after a courageous battle with leukemia.

Karen entered this life on January 3, 1959, in Chillicothe, Missouri, one of four children born to the union of John R. and Ruth E. (Zwygart) Proctor. She was raised in Lincoln, Missouri and was a 1977 graduate of Lincoln High School.

Karen was President and Founder of Choice Marketing, a full service marketing and advertising firm representing over 60 clients. Since 2000, she has worked with service, retail, and manufacturing professionals on the design, development, and implementation of effective marketing and advertising strategies and campaigns. She was a member of Rotary International, served on the Board of Directors and Past President of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, board member of the Joplin Chamber Foundation, board member of Carl Junction C.A.R.E.S., member of Joplin Progress Committee, member of Joplin Advertising Federation, and a board member of Spiva Center for the Arts. She was an active volunteer for Children’s Haven and the Joplin School Districts’ Bright Futures Program.

Karen was recognized as one of the Joplin Regional Business Journal’s Most Influential Women in 2014, received the Sam Walton Business Leader Award, National Republican Congressional Committee National Leadership Award, Congressional Medal of Distinction, has been included in the Who’s Who of Professionals since 1997 and was named as one of the Freeman Health Systems Women of Heart in 2018.

According to her employees, Karen’s vision and tenacity empowered them to aspire to a new level of success every day. She was a tremendous leader and a devoted mother with a kind and generous spirit.

Karen’s dedication to her daughter led to the resolution of Jessica’s health challenges which inspired Jessica’s interest in the medical field. They shared a passion for travel and simply spending time with each other. Her devotion to family was one of her most defining qualities.

She was preceded in death by her father, John Robert Proctor; and her brother-in-law, Roger Hunt.

Karen is survived by her daughter, Jessica Plott of the home; her mother, Ruth Proctor of Lincoln, Missouri; three siblings, Catherine Hunt of Raymore, Missouri, Jean Hesse (Bob) of Cole Camp, Missouri and Kenny Proctor of Tempe, Arizona; six nieces and nephews, Brooke Hunt, Jered Hunt (Kim), Joshua Hesse (Gabby), Gabriel Hesse, Samantha Biehler (Matt), and KC Proctor; eight great nieces and nephews. Karen is also survived by her beloved, Dale Adams of Jasper, Missouri.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday morning, August 4, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. at the First Community Church in Joplin. The family will receive friends on Friday evening from 5-8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary in Joplin, Missouri. Memorials are being directed to the Karen Plott Memorial Account to go towards the Arts in Medicine program at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. On-line condolences may be sent to the family through our website www.thornhill-dillon.com. Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of the Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary in Joplin, Missouri.