Virginia “Tiny” M. Karnes

Published 1:03 pm Friday, March 28, 2025

Virginia “Tiny” M. Karnes, 90, passed away Thursday, March 20, 2025, at Carle Foundation in Urbana, Illinois.

There will be no services at this time. Calvert-Belangee-Bruce Funeral Home Farmer City is in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to Brookstone Estates in Tuscola or the family for upkeep at the family cemetery in Alabama, Sweet Home Baptist Church Cemetery.

Tiny was born on Oct. 7, 1934, in Covington County. She married Jerry Karnes on Feb. 14, 1954. He preceded her in death.

Survivors include: her children, Sandy (Dave) Ealy, Terri (Jim) Palumbo Gones, Tammie (John) Hannah, Billy (Pam) Karnes, and Jennifer (Tommy) Kinney; grandchildren, Brian (Janice) Ealy, Ben (Justine) Ealy, Patrick (Laura) Ealy, Clint (Julia) Harper, Joseph (Jamie) Hannah, Thomas (Stacy) Hannah, Casey (Dustin) Miles, Chad (Katie) Karnes, Matt (Christina) Karnes, L.T. Kinney, and Rachel Kinney; 17 great-grandchildren; brother, Buck (Karen) Lee; sisters, Emma Ruth (Randy) Colvin and Diann (Vernon) Hood; sister-in-law, Kathy Lee.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Lula Hendrix; daughters, Debbie and Jerri; and a brother, Jimmy Lee.

Tiny loved watching all sports. She was a diehard Alabama “Roll Tide” football fan and Illini fan. In her younger years, she owned and operated the Dog’N’Suds in Atwood, Illinois for around 10 years. Most of all Tiny loved being a grandma and cherished all the time spent with her grandkids and great-grandkids. She was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, devoted friend, and amazing cook who will be deeply missed.