Karen Louise Leigh

Karen Louise Leigh, born November 25, 1943, in Syracuse, New York, died September 25, 2026, in Euless, Texas. She lived with a bright, outward spirit that drew people in easily and left a lasting impression on those who knew her.

Karen built a life in fashion, bringing creativity and vision to her work with many companies in the Dallas, Texas area before eventually founding her own company, Threadworks. Her professional life reflected both talent and determination, and she became a familiar and valued presence in the fashion community. She earned her BA in Fashion Design and remained deeply engaged in the world she loved, including her active involvement with The Fashion Group in Dallas.

To know Karen was to know warmth in motion. She was friendly, kind, warm, and welcoming, and she truly never met a stranger. She happily described herself as a “social butterfly,” a phrase that suited her perfectly. Always on the go, she moved through life with energy, enthusiasm, and an easy gift for making others feel seen and included.

Karen is survived by her sister, Norma Bennett; her brother, Keith Leigh; her niece, Debra Teague; her nephew, Eric Bennett; and her god-daughter, Tiffany Smesrud. These family ties, held across years and distance, remain part of the enduring legacy of her life and love.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Edna VanEpps; her father, Harvey Leigh; and her brother, Gerald Leigh.

Karen will be remembered for her lively spirit, her welcoming heart, her eye for beauty, and the way she carried herself through the world with style and generosity. Her memory will continue to live on in the family she loved and in the many lives brightened by her friendship and presence.