Karen Rae Rayunas, 70, of Ann Arbor, Michigan passed away on June 5, 2024 after a five year battle with cancer.

Karen was born on August 19, 1953 to parents Ray and Mary Rankin in Jonesboro, Arkansas. After graduating from Paragould High School in 1971 she went on to study business education at Arkansas State University. After graduating with a degree in business education she started her first job teaching night school in Memphis, Tennessee. After several years she changed careers to become a flight attendant for Braniff Airlines in Dallas, Texas. She spent four years with Braniff then went to work as a flight attendant at Southwest Airlines where she remained for 39 years retiring in April 2021.

In summer of 1989 Karen met Rob Rayunas on one of her overnights in Detroit, Michigan. The next February they were married in Dallas and lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Karen loved to travel, play golf and go antiquing and she loved to cook plant based meals. She was very creative and talented in so many ways. From interior design and decorating to making vintage lamp shades for all occasions. She really enjoyed her volunteer work at House to Home. And she loved her dog Riley which she researched for a year to find the right little rescue dog. She loved being a flight attendant and loved all her coworkers at Southwest Airlines. In 2021 Karen retired from Southwest Airlines and vigorously fought her cancer battle.

Karen was predeceased by Mary her mother, and Ray her father. She is survived by her husband Rob, sister Kandy Smith, her husband James Smith, their son Sam Smith, daughter Brittany Jones, Brittany's husband Daniel and their children Callie and Henry.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the T Boone Pickens Hospice Facility , Three Oaks Hospice or your local hospice.