With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Karen L. Sterling, age 73.  Karen left this world in her hometown and loving community of La Marque, Texas, on 04/10/21.

Our lives will be less “bright and fancy” without our mother, Karen.  Born in La Marque in 1948 to Audrey Jo and William L. Smith, Jr., she was their first child and the only girl in the family.  She never lost the spirit and love for life of that young girl and high school cheerleader, as many of her friends from the LMHS Class of 1966 will attest to.  Up until the day she left us, she remained close with them and looked forward to their frequent gatherings and reunions.

Our mother was unique, funny, irreverent, and beautiful.  Even in pictures, you knew her smile would light up a room, and the twinkle in her eye made you know she was ready to have fun even if she had to make it happen.  She was the mother of four children, all close in age, and a “handful” would be an understatement, but she reveled in the family chaos.  She was talented in many areas, sewing all of our stylish, coordinated ensembles when we were young, and later in life when we all suddenly needed face masks.  She loved to draw and paint flowers and had the greenest thumb, as evidenced by her beautiful gardens every year.  She loved music and you knew she was genuinely having fun when she’d dance on her tip-toes.  She fully supported all of our extracurricular activities, volunteering annually as a football or softball team mom or drill team director.  She loved to travel and enjoyed many trips with her beloved husband and best friend, Charlie, and their Yorkie fur babies.  She loved our family fiercely, and nothing made her happier than creating a decadent feast and giving exquisitely wrapped gifts for every holiday.  Words cannot describe how she put her heart and soul into letting us know how special we were to her.  She was a good Momma who loved to make us laugh, even at her own expense at times, and we will miss her laughter and hugs for the rest of our lives.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, William L. Smith, III, Kenneth W. Smith, and her husband, Charles L. Sterling.  Her children survive her, Staci Delesandri-Monahan, son-in-law Michael Monahan, Trezlyn Delesandri-Campbell, son-in-law Kenneth Campbell, Audra Delesandri-Neumann, John Delesandri, Jr., daughter-in-law Lori Delesandri and grandchildren, Ty Borbon and his wife Heather Borbon, Isabella Borbon, Brendan Neumann, Gianna Delesandri, Dempsey Delesandri, Courtney Lindsay and her wife, Michelle Lindsay, Mallory Monahan and her husband Dan Sedlacek, Leo Campbell, and great-grandchildren Croix Lindsay and Lucca Lindsay.

Services to celebrate her and Charlie’s lives will be held at First Church of God in Texas City on Friday, 05/07/2021, at 1 pm.  If you would like to honor their lives, please donate to the SPCA as Karen and Charlie were supporters and animal lovers. Arrangements are under the direction of James Crowder Funeral Home, La Marque