Karen Louise Jamison
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Karen Louise (Billingsley) Jamison, a California Surfer Girl turned true Southern Lady, Decorator and Artist, passed away on October 22, 2020 in Dallas, Texas following a brief illness. Born October 1, 1944 in Los Angeles, California as the only child of Guthrie William Billingsley and Erma Beatrice Cowley, she spent her formative years in Downey and Hollywood, California, listening to the Beach Boys and spending her days on the California beaches. Upon graduating from Downey High School (class of 1962), she traveled by train to Abilene Christian College, where she began her college years, choosing over the Malibu beaches of Pepperdine University. While at Abilene Christian, Karen met and married Robert Merrill Jamison, who shared her love for art. From Abilene they journeyed to his hometown of Plainview, Texas to begin their lives, owning and operating The Factory frame shop and creative art supplies. She also began her career as an artist, with pieces being displayed in Neiman Marcus. In Plainview, Karen had two children - daughter Shonne in 1966 and son Justin in 1970. In the mid 70's Robert's career brought the family to Columbus, Mississippi. During her time in Columbus, Karen was a doting swim team and football mom, as well as a second mom the kids' friends, known affectionately as "Mama J". Karen expanded her career to include interior decorating, working with many clients throughout the South. After her children left the nest, she (along with her tiny toy poodle Corvette) briefly served as a house mother for the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity at Mississippi State University. During the 1990s through the 2000s, Karen's art career flourished, as she was commissioned by the State of Mississippi to create several commemorative posters, most notably the Mississippi in the Park in 2008 in New York City, earning special recognition by Governor Haley Barbour. Karen remained in Columbus, Mississippi until 2016, moving to Dallas to be near her children and grandchildren. In Dallas she made many friends while volunteering at St. Michael's Women's Exchange at Highland Park Village, tending to her antique booths in Snyder Plaza and the Dallas Design District, and most recently working at The Muse, all giving her great joy. Karen will be remembered by those who knew her as a one-of-a-kind combination of talent, style, opinion, wit and most of all, kindness. She loved shopping (until everyone else dropped!), the Dallas Cowboys (and Dak Prescott), Ole Miss football, Mississippi State men's and women's basketball, traveling the world with her Columbus friends (dubbed the "Steel Magnolias"), and spending time with her family and her many new Dallas friends, while doting on her grandchildren. Karen is survived by her daughter Shonne (Jamison) Landry and son-in-law Terry Raymond Landry of Dallas, son Justin Myles Jamison and daughter-in-law Denise (White) Jamison of Rockwall, granddaughters Madison Grace Jamison and Lauren Taylor Jamison, and her precious cat Boo, who is already enjoying his new home with the Priddy family (thank you Dianne and Hervey!). The family would like to thank those who gave her exceptional care at the T. Boone Pickens Hospice Center, Drs. Mark J. Fleschler and Haskell Gill Kirkpatrick, and her neighbors behind The Pink Wall! In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Faith Presbyterian Hospice (T. Boone Pickens) (www.forefrontliving.org) and St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Columbus, MS. An informal celebration of Karen's life is being planned in Columbus, Mississippi in the Spring of 2021 to honor her memory and legacy. Meanwhile, Karen is making her way in Heaven, re-arranging furniture for all those who did and didn't ask for her opinion.