Karen M. Phifer, 87, of Frankfort, passed away October 5, 2026 at IU Health Frankfort Hospital in Frankfort, Indiana. She was born February 27, 1939 in Clinton County to Clifton Dale and Mary Alice (Eikenberry) Crum. She was previously married to Donald A. Evans for twenty years. She married Jerry M. Phifer, Sr. in Frankfort, Indiana on February 14, 1981, and he preceded her in death on February 16, 2018.
Karen attended Michigantown High School and went on to receive her LPN at the Kokomo School of Practical Nursing in 1972. In 1984 she graduated from Marian University as an RN. Karen worked for Schlossers, then Frozen Novelties before becoming a nurse at the Clinton County Hospital for twenty years. She also worked as a Homecare Nurse at White County Hospital in Monticello. In her spare time, Karen loved to read and complete crossword puzzles. She adored spending time with her family and her special dog, Roxy.
Surviving are: her daughters, Roseanna May (Kipp) Bagshaw of Frankfort, Deborah Elaine (Tom) Birch of Frankfort, Kimberly Suzanne (Mark) Shanks of Frankfort, Mary Elizabeth (Chris) King of rural Frankfort, and Tina Marie (Craig) Hudzinski of Kirklin; her sons, John Thomas (Rosanne) Evans of Walton, and Michael P. Anthony Crum Evans of Frankfort; her step-sons, Jerry Phifer Jr. of Tipton, Timothy (Phyllis) Phifer of Tennessee, and Jay Phifer of Kokomo; her step-daughter, Jodi (Larrie) Davis of Warsaw; 14 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren; and her brother, Ronald (Judy) Crum of Frankfort.
She was preceded in death by: her parents, Clifton and Mary Alice; her husband, Jerry; her grandson, Garrett Evans, and her granddaughter, Catrina Myers.
Friends may visit 12-2 p.m. Thursday, October 8 at Goodwin Funeral Home, 200 S. Main St., Frankfort, with a funeral service following at 2p.m. Burial will be at Hopewell Cemetery, 3460 E 500 N, Frankfort. Goodwin Funeral Home is honored to assist the Phifer family. Memorials may be made to Fountain of Life Church, 50 East North Street, Rossville, IN 46065. Please visit goodwinfuneralhome.com where you may share a condolence with the family.