Karen Joyce Spurgin

Karen Joyce Spurgin, 79, passed away on Tuesday, June 7, 2022 at her home in Weatherford surrounded by her family. She had been battling cancer for the last several years. Service: 2:00 P.M. Saturday, June 11, 2022 at Azle Church of Christ. Visitation: 1:00 P.M. to service time at the church. Interment: 10:00 A.M. Friday, June 17, 2022 at DFW National Cemetery. Karen was born May 13, 1943 in Snyder to Owen and Tennye Woody Nail. She grew up in Scurry County and lived in Ira, Dunn and Snyder during the oil boom of the 1950’s with her older siblings, brother Robert and sister Glenda. She had fond memories living along Deep Creek with her many cousins in the area. She attended schools in the community and graduated from Snyder High School. In May of 1961 she married Otis Hal Holladay of Snyder. They lived on a farm in Northeast Scurry County, where she had two children, Kirk and Brent. She enjoyed the hard but fulfilling work of farm life where she excelled at cooking often entering baked goods in the county fair. In late 1968, Hal became ill with cancer which took his life in December of 1968. Following the death of her husband, Hal, she and her two sons Kirk and Brent moved to Irving and lived with sister, Glenda and her family. There God smiled on her and she met Eddie Spurgin from McKinney, and they married in August of 1969. Karen and Eddie began a new life in Irving and God blessed them with a son, Dusty in January of 1972. Karen enjoyed being a homemaker, but her love of education soon led her to begin attending schools in the Dallas Community College system and ultimately she attended the North Texas State University (now UNT) and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Education in 1977. She soon began teaching elementary school in Irving. She continued on with her education and graduated from Texas Woman’s University in 1981 with a Masters degree. In 1983, the family moved to Waxahachie where Karen taught school and was active in the Aggie Mom’s Club. Karen loved to fly and she decided she wanted to fulfill her dream of being a flight attendant in the mid 90’s. She attended the American Airlines Flight Attendant Academy and ultimately worked for Delta Airlines for 10 years. Eddie would often join her on her trips and they enjoyed being together and seeing the country. In her spare time Karen enjoyed spending time with her grandkids and being a teacher, she encouraged them to excel. Karen and Eddie were always willing to volunteer to spend time with their grandkids, attending school or sporting events whenever possible. She enjoyed playing games, playing 42, bridge, and Canasta with her friends and family. She was a lover of history often traveling to visit historical sites as well as doing the research to become a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Karen also enjoyed researching family history and she and her siblings and cousins began organizing a Nail family reunion that carried on annually for many years until the Pandemic. The most important thing in her life was her faith. Where ever Karen lived, she was an active member of the churches of Christ. She was a firm believer in prayer. Her faith in God gave her hope and through prayer she believed anything was possible. During the last years of her life, Karen and Eddie moved to Azle. There they became members of the Azle Church of Christ where Eddie serves as an elder. Through out her life, she enjoyed serving people, through Meals on Wheels or taking meals to the fire station. While in Azle, Karen and Eddie enjoyed spending time with their great-grandson, Weston always teaching and training. Karen had a great love for pets, taking care of numerous cats and dogs throughout the years. Over the years, Karen has touched many lives. Whether it be the students she taught or the people she served in the air, she will be missed by all who knew her. Karen fought the good fight, she kept the faith and she finished the race. Karen is preceded in death by her parents; brother, Robert Nail; and first husband, Hal Holladay. She is survived by husband of 52 years, Eddie Spurgin; sons, Kirk Holladay of Fort Myers, FL, Brent Holladay and wife, Teresa of Fort Worth, and Dusty Spurgin and wife, Tammy of Weatherford; sister, Glenda Shaw of Grand Prairie; grandchildren, Douglas Holladay, Collin Holladay, Lauren Elliot and husband, Grant, Owen Holladay and wife, Alea and Daniel Holladay; great-grandson, Weston Holladay; and a host of family members, friends, including her many cats.