Karna Doyle

Karna Jean Doyle, 75, passed away Sunday, June 25, 2023 in Henderson, KY. She was born on July 7, 1947 in Detroit, Michigan to Francis and Patience Clark. Karna’s wanderlust and deep compassion showed up early when she volunteered with Vista (Volunteers in Service to America) in Colorado at age 19. She was even the main cover story of the Detroit News Sunday magazine for her year’s worth of work transforming lives in a poor area of Durango. Karna had sworn she would never marry a pilot like her parents. Typical teenage rebellion and all, you know how it goes. Well, that lasted until she met the dashing pilot Tim Doyle. Tim not only swept her off her feet, but into the wild blue skies. After a lovely courtship, and the whole infamous ice cream incident with her parents… well, let’s just say Tim proposed and they were married on September 8th 1967. Both Tim and Karna were very active early on in their marriage at Holy Trinity Chapel. Having a solid relationship, they did pre-marriage counseling, passing on their wisdom and humor to many young couples. Two kids into their marriage Karna was working as a translator for an orphanage in Bogotá, Colombia, South America called FANA (Foundation for the Assistance of Abandoned Children). It was while translating letters for potential parents that she would find and adopt Stephen (José) their third child. Tim and Karna traveled to Colombia to bring Stephen home from the orphanage. It was while they were there when it happened. Eyes met from across the room…. and well, a fourth child was added to the family. They saw Fabiola, now Sharon, needed a home. They returned to Colombia and Karna’s Kind spirit had her bringing home not only their new daughter but another adoptee girl to her new family. Rumor has it that Karna secretly imported an emerald pinned in her bra on that same trip. Tim put a kibosh on adoptions but Karna’s love for kids endured. If she couldn’t adopt, she wanted the next best thing. Karna went on to foster 36 yes, 36 foster babies. One of which never left. Enter Tony, the fifth and final child. Did that slow her down? Nope, she went on to get her bachelors degree from EMU (Eastern Michigan University) and her Masters Degree from MSU (Michigan State University) and all but a dissertation PhD from Michigan State University. Karna became a college professor at Concordia University in Ann Arbor helping to develop and form their Family Services Program. Once again her compassion for others helped to enrich the lives of many young adults. Karna loved Genealogy, like her mother, and worked tirelessly on her family tree for many years, tracing it back to early A.D. She also had a keen love of travel. Visiting such foreign shores as Ireland, South America, Europe, and Australia as well as zipping to and fro all over the USA. She would go alone, with family, or college students. Hopping into Foolish Carriage (The family’s 1970’s station wagon) a rental car or a bus from the collage and go where ever her gypsy heart desired. In addition to her parents Francis and Patricia Clark, Karna was preceded in death by her beloved husband Timothy J. Doyle. Karna is survived by her daughters Karen LoDico and her husband Peter of Henderson, KY and Sharon Duggan of Livonia, MI; sons: David Doyle and his wife Miki of Ypsilanti, MI, Stephen Doyle and his wife Pearla of Corpus Christi, TX, and Anthony Doyle of Ypsilanti, MI; sister Francine McPherson and her husband Ronnie of Georgetown, TX; brother David Clark and his wife Mary of Ft. Worth, TX; grandchildren: Daniel Doyle, Chelsea Stevens and her husband Tim, Kellen Guinn and his wife Alyssa, Holden Guinn, Jada Doyle, Claudia Duggan, and Jacob Doyle; great grandchildren Calvin and Grace Stevens; nieces and nephews. There will be no services in Henderson at this time. The family is honoring Karna’s longtime wish to be with her beloved again as they will be buried together in their home state of Michigan. Arrangements entrusted to Benton-Glunt & Tapp Funeral Home, A Life Celebration® Home, online condolences may be made at www.bentongluntandtappfuneralhome.com

Karna Doyle

July 7, 1947 - June 25, 2023