SEYMOUR
Clifton “Jack” Randall Karnes, 93, died at Brickyard Healthcare, Bloomington, on July 13, 2024, at 1 a.m. “God Bless You” was this good and faithful servant’s most frequent phrase as he happily aged.
He was born May 16, 1931, in Bedford, Virginia, to Eula Belle (Welch), born March 10, 1894, and
John Bennett Karnes, born July 8, 1886, both also in Bedford, who preceded him in death. His brothers JB and Ed also preceded him in death. His sister Isabelle Belton survives in Eustis, Florida. The Karnes family lived in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and survived the loss of a Peaks of Otter tomato farm during The Great Depression through raising cattle in Wheats Valley. When Jack was just a boy, his coon hunting and stewardship of the land brought him closer to the bears, deer, cattle, and his “runs” through the hills caring for Isabelle than to traditional school. He eventually attended Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia, before enlisting in the Korean War as a paratrooper. He saw first-hand the cruelties of war, which shaped him for many years to come.
Following his honorable discharge, he met and married Shirley Dale Seal with whom he welcomed children: Randall Michael (Kim) Karnes, Sandra Gale Karnes, and Jack Seal Karnes. Only Randy survives.
Jack then wed Brenda Lee (Robinson) Karnes in Brenda’s mother Oma’s hometown of Lafayette, Tennessee, on November 21, 1970. She preceded him in death. They added to their Nashville, Tennessee, family Jacquelyn “Jacque” Renee Roberts and Anthony “Tony” Michael Karnes before relocating to Seymour, Indiana, where they added two more children: Robin Lee Karnes (Reuben) Cummings and Jason Burnelle Karnes.
Jack worked construction, farmed, raised hounds and hunted, and eventually moved to Seymour as a plant manager for the old Pepsi plant. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion and Elks Lodge. He met with many friends at Will’s Tavern and drank morning coffee at Hardee’s in the years before his grandchildren were born. After he became a grandfather, he spent more time visiting with family and friends, antiquing with his wife, gardening, and leading the entire family in laughs!
His grandchildren Tiller, Jackson, Delaney, Jacob, Cali, Joslyn, and Joel all survive and will miss him greatly.
A celebration of Jack’s life will be held at Voss &Sons Funeral and Cremation Service on Monday, July 29, 2024, at 5:00 pm. Friends and family may visit from 2 pm until the time of the service, officiated by Dr. Jerry Roberts. Memorials may be made in Jack Karnes’s name to the American Legion for his final expenses in care of Robin Cummings. You are invited to visit our website, vossfuneralservice.com, to order flowers, leave condolences, or share a memory.