Karen Little Gilmer

Karen Little Gilmer, 69, of Kingsport, Tennessee, passed away on Sept. 26, 2026. Karen was born on July 5, 1957, in Northampton, Massachusetts, to Henry N. Little and Isabelle Little Wyman. She spent much of her childhood in Amherst, Massachusetts and accompanied family on sabbaticals to England and California. She graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1978 and received her graduate degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1980.

Karen worked as a speech-language pathologist in a wide variety of settings throughout her career, most recently with Gentiva Home Health Services where she worked for over 20 years. She regularly would have the family members of former patients approach her in public thanking her for all she did.

In 1981, Karen married John W. Gilmer. Together they lived in Hamburg, Germany, State College, Pennsylvania, and West Windsor, New Jersey, before moving to Kingsport, Tennessee. She joined her husband John on his sabbatical at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado as Distinguished Visiting Professor. Karen shared John's love of travel and adventure, visiting China, Norway, the German Democratic Republic, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. She also enjoyed spending time outdoors, giving back to her community, listening to music, and baking bread for family and friends. As a devoted mother, she strongly encouraged and supported the children in church activities, music lessons, sports participation, scholarship programs, and participation and advancement in scouting.

Karen was a long-time member of Waverly Road Presbyterian Church, where she started multiple programs including Waverly on Wednesday and Waverly Wanderers and served as a devoted Sunday school and youth group leader. She additionally organized the volunteers for the Interfaith Hospitality Network. She was also a dedicated leader of community youth organizations, serving as pack leader for Cub Scout Pack 49 and then founding and leading Girl Scout Group 243.

She is survived by her husband of 45 years, John Gilmer; sons Kevin of Denver, Colorado; Joel (Sarah) of Roswell, Georgia; Paul of New York, New York; daughter Julie of Washington, DC and grandsons Hudson and Graham. She is also survived by her brothers, Dana (Kay) Little of Auburn, Maine, and Nathan (Karen) Little of Ramsey, New Jersey, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry N. Little and Isabelle Little Wyman, and her sister, Joyce H. Little.

Karen will be remembered for her hard work, generosity, adventurous spirit, and devotion to her family, church, and community.

Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, October 24, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. at Waverly Road Presbyterian Church with Rev. Collin Adams officiating. The family will receive friends following the service.

Graveside services will be held on Sunday, October 25, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. at Draper Valley Presbyterian Church Cemetery, 2755 Old Baltimore Rd., Draper, VA 24324 with Pastor Roland Mathews officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Symphony of the Mountains Choir / Voices of the Mountain, 1200 East Center St., Kingsport, TN 37660 or Doctors without Borders USA, P.O. Box 5030, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5030, in honor of Karen.