Karen Gorby Obituary

East Palestine - Karen L. Gorby, age 67, of East Palestine, passed away peacefully at home, held close by her family, after a long and courageous battle with cancer on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.

She was born on December 7, 1958, in Salem, OH, a daughter of the late Philip and Mary Joanne Ward Mackall.

Karen was a graduate of East Palestine High School and belonged to multiple organizations in the area. She served as past president of the East Palestine City School District Board of Education and currently as the President of the East Palestine Park Board. Karen’s love for her community showed throughout her instrumental involvement in many restoration projects and significant milestones throughout her lifetime. She was a hard worker who proudly devoted most of her career to her family-owned businesses, Gorbys, while also overseeing and carrying out smaller business ventures. Family meant everything to her. She cherished spending time with her children, on any occasion, and later found great joy in family beach vacations. She never missed an opportunity to attend her grandchildren’s school events, sporting events, or extracurricular activities. She was an extraordinary woman whose love and presence will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

She is survived by her husband, Rick Gorby, whom she married on August 12, 1978; two daughters, Tiffany (Chuck) McKee of Columbiana, and Abbey (Bruce) Palmer of Columbiana; son, Zach (Danielle) Gorby of East Palestine; four sisters, Kathy McCarthy, Julie (James) Young, Susan (Rob) McCullough, and Mary Beth (Tony) DiCello, all of East Palestine, and by her brother, Kevin (Rae Ann) Mackall of High Point, NC. Also surviving are her nine beloved grandchildren, Jesse, Justin, and Makayla McKee, Brynlee, and Rylee Palmer, Kolby Hamner, Mason, Dawson, and Lane Gorby.

She was preceded in death by her stepfather, Donald (Wimp) Eugene Hulton, and a brother-in-law, Mike McCarthy.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, February 1, 2026, from 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm and again on Monday, February 2, 2026, from 10:00 am – 11:00 am at the Van Dyke-Swaney-Rettig Funeral Home, East Palestine.

Services will be held on Monday, February 2, 2026, at the funeral home, at 11:00 am.

Karen will be laid to rest at Glenview Cemetery, East Palestine.

As a gift in Karen’s honor, the family requests that donations please be made to Cleveland Clinic Cancer Research @ Karen Gorby's fundraising page for Cleveland Clinic