Karen Louise Stone

1950 - 2025

INDIAN LAND, S.C. - We wish to celebrate our beloved sister, Karen Louise Stone, 75, of Indian Land, S.C., whose beautiful soul will always be in our hearts.
She was our confidant, our cheerleader and a best friend. Her laughter brightened our days, and her compassion and sense of adventure created memories with everyone she met.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, on June 9, 1950, Karen passed on Oct. 8, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C., after a brief illness.
The second of four children born to Hyman and Virginia Stone, she grew up near Erie, Pa., and graduated from Fairview High School in 1968.
She is survived by her brother Craig Stone (Susan Shapiro) of Fort Mill, S.C.; sister Terri Stone of Hilliard, Ohio; and nephew Alex Conrath (Stephanie Joyce). Her parents and sister Bonnie George predeceased her, along with her beloved cats Starr and BeeGee.
Karen earned a bachelor's degree in social work from Edinboro College in 1971, followed by an MBA from Gannon University and a graduate certificate in Educational Technology Integration from Pennsylvania State University. In 2023, she achieved a longtime goal of becoming certified through Best Friends Animal Society and Southern Utah University to run a lifesaving sanctuary.
Karen worked in the fields of social work administration and higher education. Among her roles, she served as director of educational technology at Allegheny College, a computer science instructor at Gannon University and president of her company that provided software training and services. Finally, she joined Ellucian and held several roles, retiring as an IT contractor in 2019.
Karen cherished her family and many friends. She and her lifelong best friend, Charlene Thayer Polinek, gave each other the designation of "my person."
Known for being a bit of a daredevil, Karen twirled a fire baton in high school as head majorette. She also learned to slalom water ski and sky dive – and even took piloting lessons. She loved to travel and trekked through many countries – most recently Portugal.
She enjoyed concerts, musical theater and discovering all aspects of the healing arts. Friends described her as a bright light, a beautiful spirit and seeker of justice for all … beautiful inside and out. One loved the smile she always wore and the positive glow about her. Another shared, "I know her light is now brightening up the heavens."
A celebration of Karen's life will be held Oct. 30, 2025, 1 to 4 p.m. at Hickory Tavern, 8364 Charlotte Highway, Fort Mill, SC 29707.
Rest peacefully, dear sister. We will hold you in our hearts until we meet again.