Karen Ann Stewart Stephenson, 70, passed away peacefully at her home on September 10, 2024. She was born on November 20, 1953, in Carthage, Texas, to Erika Marie Fleming and James Rann Stewart. Erika and James were both veterans. James had grown up in East Texas and wanted to return there to continue their lives. The first of four children, she was a very loving and caring sister, daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, health care provider, and teacher.

Karen, very studious and dedicated to learning, received many awards and much recognition in her academic life for all of her hard work and achievement. Karen sang in the Episcopal Church Choir for many years and had a wonderful voice. She loved being a part of any group that brought faith, health and happiness to those around her. Perhaps the desire to help others influenced her decision to attend Austin College to achieve a degree in biology and later attend the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston to obtain a degree in Physician Assistant Studies. After graduation, she accepted employment in Hallettsville, Texas with one of the three doctors where she had spent her preceptorship. Karen’s easy going attitude and rural upbringing made it easy to fit right in with the residents of the area. After several months of work in Hallettsville, she and her nurse friend, Jocelyn, went out for fun and a little dancing to nearby Victoria to a popular country dance club. This is where she met her future husband, Brad. She initially turned down Brad’s request for a dance by telling him that she did not know how. Brad asked her if she would like to learn. Karen said she would try her best. The union that formed during that first dance lasted a lifetime.

Karen and Brad later married, bought a house between Victoria and Hallettsville and had two wonderful daughters. Later, around 1986, Karen was asked by the Chair of UTMB Physician Assistant Studies to come back to Galveston and teach in their PA program. Karen had been hosting PA students in their preceptorships at their practice for their onsite rotations to acquire practical experience. In 1987, she and Brad moved to Galveston following her acceptance of that teaching position. For 26 years, Karen loved teaching her students while raising two sweet and smart daughters and being a faithful and loving wife to her husband, Brad. She accepted an early retirement in 2013 with full retirement benefits from UTMB. Brad retired the following year and they spent the next 5 years traveling to Boston, North Carolina, Virginia and visiting family. She loved gardening and flowers and her efforts still show around the Stephenson household to this day. She kept a strong relationship with four women that she met and shared much time with at Austin College, ”The Lollygaggers” as they called themselves. These relationships would prove strong until the very end. Their annual vacations following college graduation evolved into a video call nearly every Friday where they shared the large and small milestones of life with each other. As her condition progressed, she was keenly aware of the end result. Through the thick and thin of it all, Karen embodied the grit and fortitude she had demonstrated throughout her life. Karen’s positive outlook and loving and caring attitude endeared her to the staff and residents in her last years of assisted living and memory care. Today, we honor this woman and all the grace, love, and kindness that she shared in her life with all of us!

A memorial visitation will be on Saturday, September 21, 2024 from 3:00pm-4:00pm at the Crowder Funeral Home in La Marque.  Memorial Service will follow at 4:00pm with Pastor Bill Cole officiating.