Kara Denise Harris

 Kara Denise (Alsup) Harris, daughter of Tim and Sherry (Cox) Alsup was born on January 28, 1985 in Richmond Heights, Missouri, and departed this life on November 13, 2024, at Tennova Healthcare in Clarksville, Tennessee at the age of 39.

 Born eight weeks premature, Kara began her life as a fighter. At only 18 hours old, she had the first of many surgeries. Kara was a tenacious, determined little girl who spent her early years in and out of the hospital. She defied the odds and amazed her medical team at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital on numerous occasions. At the age of 9, Kara’s family relocated to Hawaii, and over the next four years Kara began her life-long love affair with the Aloha State. Kara went on to become a cheerleader and graduated with honors in 2003 from Clarksville Academy, where she was awarded the Headmaster’s Award. After graduation, she attended Austin Peay State University and received her BBA in Accounting in 2008. During college, Kara was offered a job as a Pharmacy Technician and this began her 20 year career. She joined the Pharmacy team at Blanchfield Army Community Hospital in 2011 where she was awarded the Employee of the Month Award for the entire hospital. Kara was honored to be able to serve the military community. She loved her BACH “Pharm-ily” and was always ready to participate in silly games and dress-up days. Kara was a member of Trenton Crossing Church of Christ (formerly Madison St. Church of Christ) where she strengthened her faith and formed enduring friendships. 

 Kara loved being a child of the 80’s. She infused music throughout every part of her life: listening to boy bands, country music, acappella groups, and Broadway show tunes; attending live concerts; singing in church, performing in high school show choir, and celebrating music with ΣΑΙ, the international music fraternity. Kara was a self-proclaimed geek, fascinated with math and science, and a superfan of her favorite movies, TV shows, video games, cartoons, and comics. Kara loved to travel and was an avid crafter. She filled her down time by making beautiful wreaths, completing intricate cross-stitch patterns, and coloring highly detailed designs. Kara’s “happy place” was the beach, which she visited many times. Kara was able to visit several countries in Europe, but was also happy to go on new adventures closer to home. Kara was a third generation St. Louis Cardinals fan and loved the city of St. Louis, especially Ted Drewe’s frozen custard.

 Kara’s love for her fur baby, Sadie, was evident by the countless photos she took of her, but the true love of her life was her husband, Colin. They met in 2014, and immediately became inseparable. Kara and Colin were married on March 3, 2018. They were known to often drive two hours just for Handel’s ice cream, but were equally happy to enjoy quiet nights at home. Kara loved being a member of the Harris clan, and she loved being an aunt to her many nieces and nephews. She embraced spending time in Colin’s beloved Youngstown, Ohio.

 Kara’s greatest treasures were her family and friends. She loved going to the movies with her dad. She loved shopping, going to music concerts and the beach with her mom. Kara had a most unique relationship with her brother, Matthew. They were “two peas in a pod” who loved doing so much together: watching musicals, crafting, playing video games, traveling, and especially aggravating each other. Kara had a remarkable way of making friends with everyone. She had a knack for making all those around her feel included and welcomed. She made friends easily and maintained those relationships throughout her life. She especially treasured the relationships she had with her church and high school friends.

 Despite the difficult health issues she faced her entire life, Kara exuded a positive, radiant force of light and love. She was a rare soul; she brightened the lives of all who knew her. She was gentle, kind, patient, and funny. Kara found joy in daily life, and she brought joy into others’ lives just by being herself. She was the very essence of sweetness. She had a strength, perseverance, and tenacity uniquely her own, forged by her early hardships. She was so proud of everything she overcame. Even as she lost the ability to speak, she found her voice. She never gave up, and never stopped fighting to live the life she loved.

 Kara’s family wishes to thank her numerous doctors, nurses, therapists, and caregivers throughout the years, especially Dr. Farouk Sadiq, Dr. Joseph Kahn, Michelle Hawk, Peggy Snider, Lisa Wood, Dr. David Allen, the Mayo Clinic, Yeslynn Flores, Leesa Sorter, Rita Bradley, and Sharon Loveall. 

Kara’s Celebration of Life will be 12 Noon on Wednesday, November 20, 2024 at Hilldale Church of Christ, 501 TN-76, Clarksville, TN 37043

Visitation will be Tuesday, November 19, 2024 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Hilldale Church of Christ and again on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until the hour of service at the church.

For anyone unable to attend in person, a livestream of the service will be available for virtual viewing here: https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTczMTcwMTk4NzMzNzIwMSZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw==

Online condolences may be made in the guest book below. 

 As you may already know, earlier this year, Kara was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. This fatal disease can strike anyone at any time. It takes away the freedom to walk, to talk and, eventually, to breathe. The ALS Association works around the clock to give independence back to the people and families impacted by ALS. The Tennessee Chapter of the ALS Association has been especially kind to our family during this difficult time. It would mean the world to us if you would please consider donating to the ALS Association in Kara’s memory here: http://als.org/donate