Karen Elizabeth Fort, 65, of Terre Haute passed away Friday, July 28, 2023, at Gibson Family Center for Hospice.  She was born April 1, 1958, in Terre Haute to Shirley Mayes Perez.  Karen was a deli clerk at Kroger for 28 years.  She loved her customers and her work family very much.  Karen was a fantastic cook.  She was known for her fried chicken, fish, and greens.  Her family often enjoyed her cooking many times a year when the family gathered for the holidays.  She was a member of Allen Chapel AME Church.  Karen enjoyed traveling.  She was a very devoted and loving mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and friend.  Family was everything to her.  The grandchildren especially brought her much joy.  She will be missed by so many.

Karen is survived by her mother, Shirley Perez, daughter April Fort, grandchildren Aaliyah Holman, Nylaa Holman, and Prince Charles Jones; special friend of 14  years Anthony Walden, siblings Pamela Hood, David Mayes (Nancy), Robert Mayes (Charnell), Charles Mayes (Elaine), Eric Fort, Paul Beard (Melinda), and John Ray Butler (Angela), uncles Edward Mayes and Hullet Mayes, aunts Nita Berchman and Melvina Woods, a host of nieces and nephews, as well as her beloved dog, Peanut.  She is preceded in death by her husband, James Fort, grandparents James and Flossie Mayes, aunt Mildred Rosales, aunt Barbara Griffie, aunt Melvin Hicks and uncle Ronald Mayes, sister-in-law Susan Fort, and brother-in-law Tyrone Hood.

Visitation will be held Saturday, August 5, 2023, at Samaritan Funeral Home from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00p.m.  Service will begin at the funeral home at 1:00 p.m.  Reverend Dr. Tonya Burris Mallory and Reverend Kevin Mallory will officiate.  Burial will follow at Grandview Cemetery.  Online condolences may be made to www.samaritanfunerals.com.