Karen Ann Purves, 67, of Hamilton, Ohio, passed away on February 16, 2026. Born in Hamilton, Ohio on November 20, 1958 the daughter of James R. and Marilyn A. (Long) Lambert.

Karen attended St. Peter in Chains School and Badin High School. After graduating from the University of Dayton, she spent over 30 years as a beloved elementary school teacher at St. Peter in Chains School. One of her superpowers was being able to name every student she ever taught, the year she taught them, their friends, and all their siblings.

Cincinnati sports, drill team, music, animals, and family history all had a special place in her heart.

Survivors include her mother, Marilyn Lambert; two children, Michael (Megan Mudersbach) Purves and Megan Purves; and brother, Kevin (Patricia) Lambert.

Karen will be missed deeply by those who knew her.

Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00PM Monday, February 23, 2026 in the Zettler Funeral Home, 2646 Pleasant Ave. Hamilton, OH  45015. Friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday February 24, 2026 at 9:30AM in St. Peter in Chains Church, 282 Liberty Ave. Hamilton, OH  45013. Burial will be in St. Stephen Cemetery. To share a memory or leave a special message for her family, please visit the online register book at www.zettlerfuneralhome.com. To honor Karen's passion for education, the family invites donations to the Badin High School Memorial Fund, in lieu of flowers: https://www.badinhs.org/memorialdonation.html