Eva Karr Obituary

Eva M. Karr, beloved wife, exceptional mother, loving grandmother, doting great-grandmother, and faithful friend to many, drew her last breath here on earth and lifted her eyes to behold her Lord and Savior on Thursday, May 29, 2025. She is now reunited, in a grand reunion, with her husband, family and friends who welcomed her with eternal rejoicing. She completed a life that was well and fully lived.
Eva left a legacy of selflessness, compassion, generosity, and humility along with a joyous love of people, travel, and life. She lived her life to the fullest and practiced her faith through action.
She began life's adventure on January 30, 1931, in Akron, OH as the second daughter and fourth child of Homer Connor and Roscoe Love Witt Underwood. She grew up in a loving family. She accepted Christ as her Savior in her early teens. Although her parents did not attend church regularly, she was taught empathy, compassion, generosity and giving back to the community. Her parents also challenged her to explore nature, to embrace science, to seek adventure, and to live peaceably with others. Her childhood was shaped by the Depression, the lessons of which, lead to a life lived prudently, frugally, and charitably.
She met Donald E. Karr in 1951. Donald was a budding insurance salesperson, and she was working as a teller at the local bank. Donald's salesmanship was on full display as he wooed her and, eventually, she said yes to his proposal of marriage. They were wed in their backyard on August 2, 1952. Donald was the love of Eva's life, and they spent the next fifty-six years building a life together.
As they built their life as a couple, they also began their life in Christ together when Donald accepted Christ in 1954. They joined a small Mennonite church in Rittman, OH and began to grow in the practice of their faith.
They were blessed with two additions to their little family. David Edward Karr was born in 1955 and then Sally Ann Karr was born in 1956. Eva loved her new responsibilities and spent many afternoons and evenings walking her children in the park or hanging out with other new moms in her neighborhood.
In 1960, Donald decided that insurance was not the profession for him, so they sold their home and moved to the small town of Taylors, SC. Eva made a home for Donald and her children while holding a position in the Trust Department at South Carolina National Bank. She was an outlier in a business that was dominated by men at the time. It was there that she developed a tenacity of character and sarcastic wit to help her survive the 1960s office environment.
Eva loved people. She was selfless and compassionate in the exercise of her faith toward others. She left banking in the early 1970's and devoted her time to providing a home for her children and as a surrogate mom to seventeen at-risk children and young adults over the years. She would bring them into her home and provide for them as she did her own children. She gave them a stable environment and taught them responsibility. She gave of herself and her resources endlessly. Any time she heard of someone in need, she was there for them. She supported missions work around the world and the work of Grace Baptist Church in Taylors.
Eva also loved adventure. When her children left the home, she began a quest to visit all fifty of the US states. In June 2018, accompanied by her oldest grandson, Scott Karr, she visited North Dakota and completed her quest. She then looked internationally for her next adventures. She traveled to many of the Caribbean Islands, Ireland, the UK and embarked on her last adventure to Nice, France in March 2023, with her grandson, Seth Leonard.
Eva is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, David and Kim Bradley Karr of Travelers Rest, SC, and her daughter and caregiver, Sally Karr Leonard of Taylors, SC; a brother and a sister-in-law, James and Helen Underwood of Huntsville, AL; and many nieces and nephews who brought much joy to her life.
The Lord blessed her with five grandchildren whom she adored: Scott M. and Heather Karr of Greenville, SC, Stacy K. and Matthew Holst, of Raleigh, NC, Stephanie M. and Scott Heath of Moore, SC, Seth B. Leonard of Greenville, SC, and Mark R. and Brittany Leonard of Greenville, SC.
The Lord's blessings overflowed to her and to her grandchildren with gifts of eleven great-grandchildren: Michael, Maddox and McKenna Karr, Garin, Isaac, Evan and Gethin Holst, Theodore and Sophie Heath, and Apollos and Evalynn Leonard.
The family gratefully acknowledges Crescent Hospice, and her wonderful team of Karen Zimmer and LaShannon Thompson for their loving and tender care for Eva during her final journey.
In lieu of flowers, Eva would ask that memorial gifts be made to the American Cancer Society or to a hospice care of your choice.
Eva's celebration of life will be held on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at the Thomas McAfee Funeral Home, Downtown Chapel, 639 N. Main Street, Greenville, SC, 29601. The celebration will be officiated by her cherished nephew Jim Tanner. There will be an onsite reception at the close of the celebration.
Friends are encouraged to share their favorite memories of Eva with the family by clicking on the button labeled "Share A Memory".