YOUNGSVILLE - Karen Alpin Smith Estes, 44, died Wednesday, July 18, 2012 at home. A service was held Friday, July 20, at Wake Forest United Methodist Church, followed by visitation with the family. Burial will be held at noon Saturday, July 21, in the Alphin family cemetery at Mt. Olive.

She was born and raised in Raleigh, the daughter of Faison and Linda Smith. She was a 1985 graduate of Athens Drive High School, attended Louisburg College and started her career in the banking industry, leading to a branch manager position with BB&T and becoming a mortgage broker. Prior to her illness, she was the Operations Manager for The Factory in Wake Forest.

Surviving: husband, Todd Estes; daughter, Kristin; sons, Garrett and Hunter, all of the home; mother, Linda Alphin Smith of Clayton; father, Faison Delano Smith (Betty Boone) of Albertson; sisters, Kimberly Smith Todd (Jeff) of Clayton and Katrina Smith Muirhead (Iain) of Cary; two nieces and a nephew.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Karen’s memory to the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke: DUMC, Box 3624, Durham, NC 27710 or to Hospice of Wake County, 250 Hospice circle, Raleigh, NC 27607.

A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Wake Forest.