Karla Marlene McDonald

Karla Marlene McDonald, formerly of Cumberland, Kentucky, passed away peacefully on Friday at the Somerwoods Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Somerset, Kentucky. She was 64 years old.

Born on July 24, 1960, Karla was the beloved daughter of the late Bill Vern Boggs and the late Marlene Francis Howard Boggs. She carried her mother's name with grace and lived a life that reflected the warmth and strength of the family that raised her.

Karla dedicated her professional life to the care and comfort of others, working as a Certified Nurse’s Assistant, a calling that suited her generous spirit perfectly. Over the course of her career, she served with compassion and skill at Humana in Lexington, Kentucky, and at Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana, where she touched the lives of countless patients and their families before her retirement.

A woman of faith, Karla believed in the Baptist tradition and found strength and solace in her relationship with God throughout her life.

Those who knew Karla knew that she was one of a kind. Her personality was warm, funny, and absolutely full of love. She never met a stranger, only friends she hadn't yet made and she possessed one of the kindest hearts anyone had ever encountered. She had a gift for making every person in her presence feel welcomed, seen, and cherished.

Karla had a deep love of music and gardening, but perhaps nowhere did her creativity and love shine more brightly than in the kitchen. A devoted fan of the Food Network, she taught herself to prepare elegant, restaurant-worthy meals, and her daughter fondly recalls growing up "raised on Food Network recipes." It was said many times that Karla could make a fancy meal out of absolutely nothing which is a testament not only to her culinary skill, but to the way she approached life itself: finding abundance where others saw little, and transforming the ordinary into something extraordinary.

Above all else, Karla loved her family deeply and completely. While her heart had room for everyone, her grandchildren held a very special place within it, they were, simply put, her heart.

In addition to her parents, Karla is preceded in death by her loving husband, Terry Wayne McDonald, and her sisters, Karen Michelle McBride and Kathryn Mae Davis.

She is survived by her devoted daughter, Bethany Morgan; her cherished grandchildren, Maddie and Brynn Morgan; her sister, Kristina (Richard) Parrott; and a host of other beloved relatives and friends whose lives she touched in immeasurable ways.

Karla Marlene McDonald leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, good food, and a standard of kindness that all who knew her will strive to carry forward. She will be forever missed and never forgotten.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at a later date. Details will be announced by the family when available.

Cumberland Valley Funeral Home is Honored to Serve the McDonald Family.

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