Karen Frances Daye

KAREN FRANCES MITCHELL DAYE (MARCH 9, 1958-JAN. 29, 2026) Karen Mitchell Daye, 67, of Hessmer passed away at Hessmer Nursing Home on Jan. 29 after a 9-year battle with cancer.

 A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at a later date.

 Karen was born on March 9, 1958 — the last baby born at the Roy Clinic on L’Eglais Street in Mansura. She was the fourth and final child of Amet Mitchell and Evelyn Bordelon. The family made its home in the Hessmer area. Karen graduated from Hessmer High School in 1976 and enjoyed her activities with FHA and the high school band, where she played clarinet. She was pursuing a Social Work degree at Northeast Louisiana University — now known as University of Louisiana at Monroe — when a chance dormitory assignment changed her life forever. Her dorm neighbor, Amy Daye — now Terracina — introduced Karen to Amy’s brother, Raymond, in February 1978. Raymond had graduated from NLU in December 1977. Karen and Raymond were engaged in September 1978 and married on Jan. 13, 1979 at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Hessmer. They lived their early years of marriage in Minden. They returned to Central Louisiana in June 1980 when Raymond was hired as a reporter for the Alexandria Daily Town Talk. While Karen interrupted her college career to dedicate herself to creating and caring for a family, she did not abandon her desire to serve others. She worked at Renaissance Home for Youth in Alexandria, as a substitute teacher and finally as a paraprofessional in the Rapides Parish School System. After a 17-year gap, Karen resumed the pursuit of her college degree in 1995 and received her Bachelor’s of Social Work from Louisiana College (renamed Louisiana Christian University) in May 1997. She served as a social worker at Pinecrest State School until the family moved to Denver, Colo., in 2001. In Denver she worked as a case manager for the Mental Health Center of Denver. The family moved back to Avoyelles Parish in 2014 when Raymond accepted the position of editor of the local weekly newspapers. Karen began working with the state Department of Children and Family Services foster care program in Marksville shortly thereafter. Karen was diagnosed with cancer in 2017. She beat back the disease and several recurrences over the next eight years. She left DCFS in 2020 after her third battle with cancer. She then worked part-time for Exceptional Counseling Services until her health prevented her from continuing. After unsuccessful treatment in the last recurrence in 2025, she made the decision to cease treatment and enjoy what time remained. She remained in the family home until late December, when the decision was made to move her to Hessmer Nursing Home where she could receive more immediate care as her condition worsened. She spent her last weeks surrounded by family and friends, still laughing and loving until just a few days before her death. 

Karen is survived by her husband of 47 years, Raymond L. Daye of Brouillette; two sons, Joshua M. Daye of Brouillette and Jesse H. Daye of Carencro; one daughter, Kathryn Daye Brouillette of Hessmer; daughter-in-law Corrin Daye of Carencro; one son-in-law, Alex Brouillette of Hessmer; one brother, Donald Mitchell of Aurora, Colo.; one sister, Evelyn Gail McMullan of Hessmer; and seven granchildren, Arianna Daye of Jacksonville, Fla.; Dylan Daye and Shelby Daye of Brouillette; Eli Daye and Nora Daye of Carencro; and Benjamin Brouillette and Alexandra Brouilletteof Hessmer; and numerous extended-family relatives on both sides of her house. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Amet and Evelyn Mitchell; one sister, Geneva Mitchell; and much-beloved niece Amy McMullan. 

In lieu of flowers, those grieving are encouraged to make a donation in her honor and memory to the American Cancer Society or other physical or mental health organization of their choice. Flowers wither, die and are discarded. The fight to save lives does not.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Escude Funeral Home of Mansura.