Karen Evadna (Kinney) Woods, 80, of Venice, Florida, passed away on Saturday, February 17, 2024.

Karen was born on April 19, 1943, in South Euclid, Ohio, to her parents Alfred Kinney and Evadna Mowrer Kinney. She attended Brush High School and Muskingum College, where she met her husband, James R. Woods (Jim). Karen graduated from Long Beach State College (B.S.) and Florida State University (M.S.).

Karen and Jim were married on August 31, 1963. The greatest of love stories, their excessive kissing and mantra of, "I love, love, love, love, love you," was an everyday norm for the two lovebirds.

They adopted two children-Michael (1966) and Amie (1968)-when they were both only three days old at the time. Karen adored her family, her students, and colleagues, and numerous activities-painting, walking, mahjongg, sewing, and even sky diving and roller coasters. She especially loved living in the warm climate of Florida after years of being cold in the north.

Once their children attended elementary school, Karen worked as Secretary of the United Way of Sumner County, Tennessee. Upon graduation from FSU in 1989, she began her career as a high school guidance counselor in several high schools in Florida: Venice HS; Southeast HS in Bradenton; Leto HS in Tampa; Bloomingdale HS in Brandon; Plant City HS; and Lemon Bay HS in Englewood. She retired in 2005.

Karen and Jim lived in several cities during their 60-year marriage: Columbus, Ohio; San Diego and Costa Mesa, California; Winter Haven, Florida; Nashville and Gallatin, Tennessee; Sarasota, Tallahassee, Bradenton, Valrico, and finally, Venice, Florida. She supported several charities and served on the Board of Rotary Futures program of Venice HS.

Karen is predeceased by her parents, Alfred and Evadna Kinney; her in-laws, John and Mildred Woods' her sister, Patricia Westbrook (and her husband, Russ); her brother, Fred Kinney; and her special aunt Doris Cary.

She is survived by her beloved husband, James R. Woods; son, Michael Cary Woods (Dawn); daughter, Amie Ittah (Ido); grandchildren and spouse: Paige Sottek (Nathan), Spencer Woods, and Maia Ittah; great-grandchild, Hank Sottek.

She is also survived by so many amazing in-laws (Judy, John [Norma, recently deceased], Jeff [Carolyn]), nephews (Paul and Richard Westbrook; David and Stewart Walker; Roy, Joel, and Stephen Woods; Hiatt Woods), nieces (Wendy Walker; Jennifer Rothwell; Madelyn Woods-Allen), and great-nieces and great-nephews.