Karen Rugg

Karen Rugg of Kansas City North died peacefully January 14, 2011 from complications of MS. She is survived by her mother, Kathryn Rugg, of Independence, aunts, uncles, cousins, cherished friends, and her church family. Her father, Wayne Rugg, died in 1997. The service is scheduled for 1:30, Thursday, 1/20/11, at the First Presbyterian Church of Independence, MO, 100 N. Pleasant, 64050. Visitation precedes the service at 12:30. Memorial contributions may be sent to the church or to the MS Society, 7611 State Line Rd Ste 100, Kansas City, MO 64114. Karen was known as “Our Miss Rugg” by her students at Chapel Hill Elementary School in the North Kansas City School District where she taught her entire 30 year career. From 1982 until her retirement in 1998, she used a wheelchair. Her students loved being chosen as driver of the week. Karen won the hearts of everyone with her sunny, positive outlook on life. Her profound legacy is showing others how to make the best of any situation. Despite her mobility issues that left her wheelchair-bound, Karen became a world traveler. She was the inspiration and co-creator of a special needs travel agency, Snail’s Pace Special Travel Services. Karen named the agency, saying “Someone who needs our services won’t be insulted by that name!” Karen was born in Beloit, KS and grew up in St. Joseph, MO. She graduated from the University of Missouri and earned her Master’s in Education from UMKC. Karen loved song lyrics. Three of her favorites were “I want to be too old to die young”; “Here I Am Lord” and “Someday we’ll all have perfect wings.” She was 64 when she passed into heaven, and she now has those perfect wings.