Karen Jean Patty-Graham (nee Shisler) entered rest on January 15, 2026.

She was born October 10, 1947, in East Chicago, Indiana to parents Bruce Richard and Jeannette May (Ruehling) Shisler. Karen is the oldest of five children and grew up in Calumet City, Illinois.  Karen knew by the time she was in first grade that she wanted to be a teacher, so her first students were her four younger siblings. Karen became a first-generation college graduate in her family.

Her dad worked at Borden and Dean Dairies, and her mom was a homemaker. Her dad took her to local high school football and basketball games, so she developed a love of those sports, as a spectator not as a participant.  Karen was more coordinated with books than sports!

Karen was preceded in death by ex-husband, Delbert Patty, and husband of 31 years, Larry Graham, who passed away August 31, 2020.

She is survived by son; Mark Richard (Elizabeth Johnson) Patty of Edwardsville, IL, stepchildren; Steven D. Graham of Granite City, IL, Nita Sue Graham of Fairview Heights, IL and Gina (Tony) Segobiano of Millstadt, IL, grandchildren; Kelli (Zach) Stiltz and great-grandchildren; Blake Alexandra, Carson Zachary, and Chloe Lynne; grandchildren Scott (Casey) Segobiano and great-grandchild Maria Grace, sisters; Sharon (Larry) Stanger of Woodstock, Illinois and their son, Brian and grandson Liam Stanger, Diane (Steve) Messman of Woodstock, Illinois and their daughters, Salina Messman and Hannah (Brian) Fernandez, Amy (Mark) Burnett of Washington, Virgina and their children Austin and Shelby, brother, Richard (Kanako) Shisler of Las Vegas, Nevada and daughter Holly and grandson Oliver, cousins and double cousins (Karen's Mom's sister married Dad's brother), nephew Major (Hilary) Aishe. Dear friends, traveling companions, and mutual support for over 25 years; Rose Cuca, Anne Gricevich, and Susan Jensen who met for coffee weekly since the kids graduated from high school and took 20+ years of annual girl trips; Lea Plarski and Joan Warrington who became dear friends through basketball, SIUE, and Flo Valley; Carol Torrini, colleague at SIUE and Fox companion for 25 years' worth of Broadway shows.

Karen had a B.S. in Elementary Education with specialties in Speech and English from NIU, a M.Ed. in developmental and remedial reading from MU, and a D.Ed. in the Instructional Process from SIUE.

Karen lived her adult life along I-70. In Columbia, MO she taught combined K, 1st, and 2nd grades in Boone County School and Title I reading K-6 in Columbia; she taught 5th grade in Richmond, IN, and in Edwardsville, IL, she taught reading and study skills at Lewis & Clark and STLCC at Florissant Valley, and then became an academic advisor, teaching reading, study skills, and teachers education classes at SIUE. She retired as Director of Instructional Services, the academic support department at SIUE, after 30 years.

Karen was a member of Phi Kappa Phi honor society, and a member of several professional associations related to education. She served in several offices of the Midwest Regional Association for Developmental Education; VP, Pres-Elect, and President of the National Association for Developmental Education where she also served as a member of the Accreditation Commission to help assess and evaluate developmental education programs across the country. She also specialized in conference planning for NADE for several years.

As a leader, she exemplified the concept of servant leadership. As a teacher, she hoped she helped her students develop and nourish a love for learning through active learning, appreciative enquiry, and critical thinking. As a person, her credo was "Do the best you can. Do the most you can. Do it with integrity, gusto, and caring".

Karen was a breast cancer survivor since 2000; she loved to travel and especially enjoyed family trips as the boys were growing up. Mark, Steven, and Larry always reminded her that they needed at least one day off while on vacation just to relax. Those trips also always involved visits to the nearest university basketball gyms and basketball coaches.

Karen and friend Susan enjoyed several ocean and river trips in Alaska and Europe, not much basketball on those trips.

Karen spent many years watching basketball games from the stands and relished the stories that Larry and his basketball buddies always talked about.

"We are a family of teachers – it is in our blood! Nita Sue, Gina, Steven, Mark, Del, Larry, and I all found teaching as a calling. Mark, who often said as a child, 'is it OK not to be a teacher?' is now a university and college professor. I am proud of that calling and know that each of us has contributed in many ways, to many lives, and nurtured their love of learning."

Funeral Services for Karen will be held 1:00pm, Thursday, January 22, 2026, from the chapel of Sunset Hill Funeral Home.  Family will receive friends at the funeral home from 11:00am until the hour of service at the funeral home.

The family is being served by Sunset Hill Funeral Home, 50 Fountain Drive, Glen Carbon, Illinois 62034.