Karen Elizabeth Lee, 32 years old, of Spring, Texas, passed from this life on December 28, 2024. She was born on June 12, 1992 to Stephen Paul and Katherine Darby Lee  in Houston, Texas.

Karen Lee arrived with her twin, Erin, on June 12, 1992. Her talents for dance, relationships, and leadership shined in her early years in Angleton, Texas.  In 1996, she moved to Destrehan, Louisiana. She studied dance and gymnastics at Johanna's School of Dance studio. In the sixth grade, she earned a position as a cheerleader for St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School. She nurtured many friendships while attending St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School and Luling Presbyterian Church, and she kept in contact with them through social media until her death.

Her dad was transferred back to Houston, Texas in 2004. She made many friends at Doerre Intermediate School and Klein High School. She continued her dance with the Koenig School of Dance where she won recognition and awards as an outstanding dancer and a leader for the school as a teacher and member of the competition team. She graduated from Klein H.S. in 2010.

She took classes at Lone Star College and worked at Office Depot until she transferred to Sam Houston State University with two of her Office Depot colleagues, Sam and Shelby. She taught fitness classes at the Sam Houston Recreation Center where she met Amber, Lyndsay, and Sierra while she worked on completing her degree in Kinesiology in 2016. These five women formed deep friendships that lasted throughout her life. She celebrated each of their weddings as part of the bridal party and became Aunt Keke to all of their children.

Following graduation, Karen returned home to live with her parents in Spring, Texas. She held positions at Promark (survey specialist), Dometex Steel (estimator), and Home Instead (care giver). In 2019, she joined First Family Pediatrics as a medical receptionist. She quickly became part of that family, spending time outside of the workplace with her bosses and colleagues. She enjoyed concerts, vacations, and many happy hours with them. She spent time with Stacy's family and Tad's family in the evenings and weekends. She considered Stacy her second mom. She became a sister to Stacy's and Tad's children.

In her final year of life, she began working for the Windwood Presbyterian church as part of their Kid's Ministry providing childcare during services and events. She also served as part of the safety and event support team at the welcome desk two evenings each week. Her Windwood family came to know her as a kind, sweet, loving person who cherished every relationship she made, as was her lifetime passion and custom. She added them to her growing extended family.

Karen approached life with enthusiasm and wonder and humor. She invested herself each day in the lives of her friends and her families. She loved and affirmed the best in each of them, and her absence leaves a blank spot in each of our lives which cannot be filled. So much more needs to be said, but words alone cannot describe the bright light that Karen brought to our lives and all who she met.

Those left to cherish her memories are: Stephen P. Lee, father; Katherine D. Lee, mother; Amy L. Beers, sister, and brother-in-law, Lemoine D. Beers; Erin Lee, twin sibling; Carol A. Darby, grandmother; Terry Lee, Nikki Lee, Annette Merola, Edna Darby - aunts; Larry Lee, Michael Lee, Richard Merola, Michael Darby - uncles. Her cousins are Christy Conrad, Jennifer Vincent, Kendall Lee, Kris Anderson, Kerri Lee,  Brayden Lee, Breanne Henderson, Trent Nero, Rebecca Durst, Andrew Chauncey, Julianna Darby, and Brandon Darby; and their spouses Chris Conrad, Mark Vincent, Lauryn Lee, Cat Lane, Nicholas Durst,  Dakota Chauncey, and fiance Abby Osterheimer; and their children: Cailyn and Austin Conrad,  Ty and Mya Vincent, Harper Lee, Makaylee Nunez, Caden Anderson, Rachel Anderson, Kinsley Anderson, Kash Anderson, and Gabrielle Durst.

Karen's extended family includes great aunts and uncles and numerous second and third cousins. She counted five friends from college as family: Lyndsay Ybarra, Amber Hambrick, Shelby Thompson, Samantha Derrick, and Sierra Paul; their spouses and partners Brandon Ybarra, Andrew Hambrick, Dusty Thompson, Myles Derrick, and Brent Durbin; their children Brody, Maddox, Walt, Eddie, Bexleigh, Everett, Rhyder, Rayleigh , and Maverick. She cherished Family First Pediatrics staff, including office manager Stacy Wilganowski and owners Tad and Jenny Shirley, who adopted her as colleague, friend, and daughter.

She is preceded in death by: Paula and Charles Lee, grandparents; LeRoy Darby, grandfather; Edith and G.O. Sory, great- grandparents; Rudy and Edgar Lee, great-grandparents; Rudolph and Hilda Witt, great-grandparents; numerous great-aunts and uncles; cousin, Tina Lee.

The Celebration of Resurrected Life will be held on Saturday, January 4th, at 11:00 am. Services will be held at Windwood Presbyterian Church, 10555 Spring Cypress Rd, Houston, Texas 77070.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Windwood Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund in honor of Karen E. Lee. Her fund will be used to provide scholarships for children to attend VBS.