Our beloved Karen Lynne Kenyon, 56, of Freeport, Texas died on March 11, 2009.

She was preceded in death by her father, Thomas Gene Kenyon.

Karen is survived by her daughter, Stephanie Michelle Walls; son-in-law, Mark Walls and grandson, Michael Eric Thomas Parmley of San Antonio, Texas; mother, Colleen Kenyon of Granite Shoals, Texas; brother, Terry Kenyon and sister-in-law, Kitty Kenyon, of Austin, Texas; niece, Kelly Marie Kenyon and her husband, David Meyer, of Houston, Texas; and nephew, Carl Frazier Kenyon of Austin, Texas; along with many cousins, good friends, and her very loved cat, Baby.

Karen was born on July 20, 1952, to Thomas Gene Kenyon and Velta Colleen Kenyon in Fort Worth, Texas. The family became residents of Freeport, Texas, in 1957. She remained in the Freeport area throughout her school years, graduating with honors from Brazosport High School in 1970. After graduation, she lived in a number of Texas Gulf Coast communities and for a brief period lived in Canada She returned to Freeport in the early ’80s, where she lived until her passing. Karen was born a performer, beginning ballet at the age of 6, and continuing through the age of 14. Dance was a passion which never died, though she moved on to other pursuits in the performing arts. She performed in One Act Plays with Freeport Junior High theater group. Other hobbies included performing with the Surfettes (Freeport’s synchronized swim team), swimming competitively with the Brazosport Aquatic Club, playing girls basketball and participating in track and field events. The year after high school graduation, Karen attended Brazosport College, where she was cast in the first play produced by BC Theater, “Roshamon.” One of her fellow actors, Donnivan Hickman, became her husband in March of 1972, and three years later their daughter, Stephanie Michelle, was born. Karen received an Associate of Science in Business Administration, with honors, from Alvin Community College in 1978. Karen and Don divorced in 1982, but remained friends throughout the rest of her life. In the mid-’90s, she returned to BC Theater and appeared in many plays. Not only did she enjoy reuniting with longtime theater friends, but also was excited to appear onstage in a few plays with her daughter. Karen carried a love of nature with her throughout her life, and this friendship with the natural world became a great inspiration and comfort to her in the last few years of her life when she began to live by a philosophy of gratefulness for all the “little things.” The greatest joy at the end of her life, though, was spending time with her beloved grandson, Michael.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, April 2, 2009, 11:00 a.m. at Community Unitarian Universalist Church of San Antonio, 4818 Beverly Mae, San Antonio, TX 78229.

If you are unable to attend, you can find her eulogy at http://stephanie-walls.blogspot.com/.

We welcome comments, stories, and memories about Karen from friends and family.