Retired Colonel Karen Victoria Fair

Retired Colonel Karen Victoria Fair of Alcoa, Tennessee passed away at her home on Monday, April 6, 2026. Karen was born on July 3, 1963, in Oakland, California to the late Joanne Peebles and James Ronald Wiggins.

Karen graduated with honors from the United States Military Academy at West Point University in 1985 and immediately began her Army career. She met the love of her life, Marcus Fair, in January 1986 during her first assignment in the 1st Brigade of the 4th Infantry division at Fort Carson, Colorado. Karen married Marcus in July of 1987 and became a mother to the late Jennafer Fair Baker.

Karen had a distinguished military career and was a decorated veteran with over 25 years of leadership, including service as General Counsel for Commanding General First Armored Division in Wiesbaden, Germany, and Strategist and later Division Chief to the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon. She has delivered congressional testimony and briefings to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, the National Security Council, and the President’s Administration. She was an integral partner on a high-level presidential task force to reduce operations at Guantanamo Bay. Karen was a Deputy General Counsel in Iraq during “Operation Iraqi Freedom”. She was appointed by the Pentagon as litigation manager and led a team that successfully prosecuted Soldiers for the human rights violations in the highly publicized Abu Ghraib scandal, and in Kosovo, she was Legal Advisor and Investigative Report author for Human Rights Investigation reviewed by Congress and President George W. Bush.

For her service and excellence, Karen received numerous awards and recognition. She graduated on the Commandant’s List as a top scholar in international and operational law from The Judge Advocate General’s Legal School at the University of Virginia Law School where she received Master of Laws, and she received the James L. Powers Award for Highest Excellence in Trail Advocacy while completing her Juris Doctorate at the University of Tennessee. She received a Bronze Star for Exceptionally Meritorious Service during combat operations at Iraq. She was honored by the Austrian Ministry of Defense for “Excellence in Peace Operations”, was awarded “Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year” by the American Bar Association, and named “Top Professional Woman, Europe” which is the U.S. Army European Command’s Award for the Highest Caliber/Excellence in contributions, International Relations. She received the Joint Service Meritorious Achievement Medal for exceptionally meritorious service as a Strategist and later Division Chief to the Chairman at The Joint Chiefs of Staff. Upon retirement, she was named the Legion of Merit Recipient for selfless service, devotion to duty and loyalty to the Military and Nation during her 25 years of active-duty service.

Active in her communities, she volunteered with her church, her grandson’s school, and with numerous non-profit organizations throughout the region as well as nationally with a special focus on impoverished communities, abused women, and veterans. She is a Founding Member of the Wounded Warrior Project and has served on the Board of Directors for the Tennessee Valley Mediation Association.

Karen was an active member of Fairview Methodist Church in Maryville. She was a devout Christian and child of God. Always the student, she enjoyed her daily bible readings and studies and believed in the power of prayer and love and in the teachings of the Bible. Karen doted on her family, especially her grandson Ryan, and was never one to sit still for long. She could be found enjoying her garden, working in her yard, reading, spending quality time with her family or friends or helping others in any way she could. There was no challenge too difficult to overcome whether professionally or personally -- she was a warrior in every way.

She is preceded in death by her mother Joann and her daughter Jennafer Fair Baker (Sean), and many other loved ones.Karen is survived by her beloved husband Marcus Fair, grandson Ryan Baker-Fair, and many loving family members and dear friends. She was deeply loved and will be profoundly missed.

Visitation will be held beginning at 5pm on Tuesday, April 14th at Fairview Methodist Church located at 2508 Old Niles Ferry Rd, Maryville, TN. Memorial Service will immediately follow at 6pm. Interment and rendering of military honors will be held on Wednesday, April 15th at East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery at 2200 John Sevier Hwy, Knoxville, TN.