Sooni Karnes

AUSTIN, Texas — Soon Lim Karnes, formerly of Sikeston, Missouri, went to her Heavenly home on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. She was surrounded by the love of her family.

Soon Lim was preceded in death by her husband, SFC Leslie L. "Roy" Karnes, 50 years ago on Feb. 16, 1971. She never remarried.

"Sooni", as she was often called, was a beloved mother and grandmother (Memaw), a respected landlord, businesswoman, and Christian. She loved life. Her smile would light up any room and her laugh was contagious. She was a fighter, strong and independent. Sooni was generous, she loved music, but before these, she was proud to be an American. Sooni would say, your Father died serving this country. So she would buy only American-made cars and speak only in English to her children. She earned her Certificate of Naturalization to become a citizen of the United States of America in September 1959.

Sooni was born in 1936 in Kyungpuk, South Korea (Japan occupied Korea). These were desperate and impoverished times for Korea when many were enslaved to Japan. Life was tough and a struggle to just survive. She was the eldest of 12 children, mostly female. Sooni helped her parents by taking on responsibility for her siblings as the oldest child in a male dominant society. She would often steal rice to keep her family from starvation during the Korean war. Out of the 12 siblings, only four survive.

After the war, Sooni met a young American MP (Military Police), Leslie "Roy" Karnes, while working at the U.S. Army Px. Several months later they were engaged to marry. During this time, Roy would live with Sooni, her Mother and, siblings. It was against US Army rules (or highly frowned upon) to marry an Asian at that time. Because of this, Roy Karnes was demoted several times, but he refused to give up his love for Sooni. They married in September 1957 and left for America.

In 1959, while living near St. Louis, Sooni gave birth to twin boys, Mike and Mark. Seven months later they were transferred to Augsburg, Germany. Sooni and Roy were able to see and experience Europe. They returned to America in May 1963 and were stationed at Fort Polk, Louisiana. In 1964, Sooni gave birth to a daughter, Sue Ann. Roy was a Drill Sergeant, where he was a Judo instructor and taught hand-to-hand combat for soldiers heading to Vietnam. Roy was KIA 19 days before he was due home from his second tour and what would have been Mike and Mark’s 12th birthday. Sooni and her three children had become members of Murray Lane Baptist Church (Bro. Wade Paris and Nellie Paris) while her husband was in Vietnam. With her closest friend's by her side, she was able to keep her faith in God.

Alone with three small children, Sooni faced a time of prejudice toward Asians (Vietnam war) and people of color; Asians were not welcomed in the 1970s. Even Roy’s family expressed their prejudice and told Sooni she should go back to her country and take her three children with her.

Sooni was proud to be an American and was determined to raise Mike, Mark, and Sue as Americans. She believed in education; "it can't be taken away from you.” Sooni earned her GED and enrolled in Cosmetology School. She failed the cosmetology test on her first try and was asked by the Missouri Board if she needed an interpreter, but she said no. Sooni re-took the test and passed. In 1982 she opened her salon, Soone's Styling Salon in Sikeston, MO.

To supplement her income and support her family, Sooni took real estate courses and began purchasing property to rent. Sooni now had enough money to take care of her parents still in Korea. Once her children were adults, she would go back to Korea and take care of her parents for 9 months every year until they both passed in the mid-'90s.

She had a compassionate heart and never forgot her roots. One of her tenants was a young, single Mom with a small child. The young Mom was having trouble with her bills. Sooni said, I have a daughter who is a single Mom, and I was a single Mom. Don't worry about rent this month. Get groceries for you and your child. She did this numerous times. She even had one renter, whose rent she never raised in years, because she was elderly. She loved to purchase tickets at the possibility of winning a Thanksgiving ham, just so she could give it to someone less fortunate. That was our Mom.

In 2013, Sooni decided to move to Austin, Texas to be near her daughter and family. Sooni enjoyed the mild winters, going on drives, and seeing the Wildflowers in the Spring, the Christmas Lights at Zilker Park near downtown, the Traveling Vietnam Veterans Wall, decorating a tree with ornaments along Highway 360, eating out at several Korean restaurants, meeting other Korean ladies at the grocery store, but BBQ and time spent with family were the most important. That and BINGO. She was considered the Bingo Queen. She loved interacting with her family and friends during the holiday or anytime.

Sooni is survived by her three children, who she loved more than the passion she had for life: a son, Mike Karnes of Sikeston, Missouri; a son, Mark Karnes of Irving, Texas; a daughter, Sue Richardson (Karnes) and son-in-law, Todd Richardson of Austin, Texas; 6 grandchildren she adored, Matthew Marney (Texas), Cynthia Karnes and husband Jonathan Goemaat and Great-Grandsons Jay and Daniel, (North Carolina), Keane Richardson and wife Amy and Great-Grandson Hazen, (Texas); Michael Karnes,Jr. (Germany), McCall Richardson (California) and Lanie Richardson (Texas).

We would like to thank Cedar Pointe Health and Wellness, and Resolutions Hospice for the compassion and care you took over our Mother, during her last days.

A graveside service will be held on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021 at 9 a.m. at Memorial Park Cemetery in Sikeston with Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in Charge of arrangements.

Online condolences may be sent to www.nunneleefuneralchapel.com.