Jean Ann Karm's Obituary
REV. JEAN ANN KARM
July 23, 1947 - March 17, 2026
Jean Ann Karm peacefully entered eternal rest on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at the age of 78. Jean Ann was born in Wichita Falls, Texas to William Kent Niles and Dorothy Jean (Flowers) Niles. Jean Ann’s life was an embodiment of faith, spirit and passion, leaving an indelible mark on every life she touched. Jean Ann was born in Wichita Falls, Texas. She graduated from Wichita Falls High School in 1965, where she played in both the band and the orchestra, and was very active in her local church. She earned a Bachelor of Music degree in 1970 and a Master of Music Education degree in 1972, both from The University of Texas at Austin. While earning her degrees, she played flute in the UT marching band, and she worked as a teacher in the String Project and as a secretary to the Assistant Dean of Fine Arts. She married Richard Karm in January 1972, and the couple eventually moved to Richardson, Texas, where she began her music career. The couple had two children, Cindy and Lance, before divorcing in 1994.
Jean Ann taught beginning orchestra to students in 6th through 9th grades in Richardson Independent School District for 22 years. She spent most of her teaching tenure at Lake Highlands Junior High and the surrounding elementary schools, and her students routinely received high accolades at annual UIL contests. Additionally, she played cello professionally in the Richardson Symphony Orchestra and the Richardson String Quartet. She also contributed to the Richardson Junior Youth Orchestra, All-Region Orchestra, and All-State Orchestra at the Texas Music Educators’ Association (TMEA) Convention, among other concerts and competitions. She was a member of the Richardson Education Association, TMEA, Music Educators’ National Conference, Texas Orchestra Directors’ Association, American String Teachers’ Association, Pi Kappa Lambda, and Mu Phi Epsilon.
While working as a teacher, Jean Ann was also active in the Daughters of the American Revolution (becoming a charter member of two different chapters) and in service at First United Methodist Church of Richardson (FUMCR). At the church, she taught Sunday school classes, sang in the choir, and played in the orchestra. She gave of her time locally with Network and Ark House, and also travelled to help others on San Marcos youth work camp trips, on multiple Appalachia Service Project trips, as part of a mission team to Cuba, and at various locations around the country with Adult Work Camp trips. In addition to serving on several church committees, she served as a counselor to her daughter’s grade group in Methodist Youth Fellowship. She learned to play guitar and helped lead singing time with the youth group on Sundays and at retreats.
In the 1990s, Jean Ann had transformative experiences at a Walk to Emmaus retreat and during a trip to Israel with FUMCR members, following which, she decided to finally answer the call to ministry. She attended Southern Methodist University’s Perkins School of Theology and was awarded a Masters of Divinity degree in 2000. She was ordained an Elder in the United Methodist Church in 2003 and served as a solo paster at multiple churches in the Southwest Texas (now Rio Texas) Conference until her retirement in 2015. She continued to be very active in the Emmaus Community and led more than a dozen “Walks”. Still, she found time to visit her grandchildren and serve on various Conference committees.
Jean Ann will be remembered for her easy smile, friendly spirit, snarky sense of humor, ability to play almost any musical instrument, and unwavering faith in God. Through her journey with Alzheimer’s disease, she kept a positive attitude, greeted everyone with a pleasant disposition, and was always quick with a smile and a laugh.
Jean Ann is survived by her sister Sara “Beth” Niles (Dallas); brother Bill Niles and his wife Janet Niles (Allen); sister Barb Niles (Wichita Falls); daughter Cindy Karm (Dallas); son Lance Karm, and his wife Amy Karm and their children, Alyssa and Mason (Cedar Park); nephew Dr. Richard Niles and his son Carter (Azle); niece Tiffany Niles Rawley and her husband Mark Rawley, and their children Kylie and Gabriel (Plano). A Celebration of Life service will be held at First United Methodist Church of Richardson on April 8, 2026, at 3:00 pm.
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