Lisa "Karen" Smith-Gwaltney Harrelson, 62, of Pace, FL passed away Monday, November 14, 2022.

Karen was born on August 2, 1960, in Pensacola, FL. She was a loving and caring, wife, mother, sister, niece, and cousin. She was a friend to all! She would give you the shirt off her back if she sensed you were in need. Karen was always there for those in need. But the biggest joy and love as of late occurred two years ago when her mother, "Meme" received an early morning call inquiring if she knew of a baby that was put up for adoption in Panama City 44 years previously. Karen a child herself, had to put her first child up for adoption as a young teenager, in a closed adoption. From the very moment of the adoption Karen wanted desperately to know the baby. To our amazement, God answered those daily prayers from Karen before God took her home. We now know the rest of her story…Nathan, Sabrina, Hannah, and Bryce. Four beautiful additions to her/our immediate family. God is good all day every day!

Karen was born and first lived in Cresent Lake as a child. She was surrounded by many childhood friends, Lisa Glover, Thresa Holt, Jill Simmons, Janice and Sandra Lebrand, and many others.

Karen would cook, after school, cheese toast & beignets for her friends and family. Over the years, she turned into a very good cook in the family, notably for her Shrimp Scampi. Oddly enough her favorite color was Cajun Shrimp…funny! Karen was very active and rambunctious as a child…doing gymnastics practicing flips in the front yard. Karen also excelled as a competitive swimmer, baton twirler, and on occasion would beat her older brother in swim competitions in the backyard.

As for her adult life and true vocation it was cosmetics and the nail industry. Her early career consisted of technical sales as a nail tech and working in the cosmetic industry. She and her friends enjoyed many summer days in the pool behind her house taking pictures and playing. We all will love and miss Cissy every day.

Karen is preceded in death by her father, Roy K. Smith.

Survivors include her husband, Dennis Harrelson; and her two sons, Nathan Edwards (wife-Sabrina) and Austin Smith; two daughters, Angela Makris (husband-Dennis) and McKenna Gwaltney; her mother, Virginia "Jenny" Smith; brother, Kel Smith (wife-Adriane); sister, Kristy Whelan (husband–Michael); her mother-in-law, Sue Gore; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held 1:00pm until a Funeral Service to begin at 2:00pm Friday, November 18, 2022, at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel, with Rev. Dan Busey officiating. Burial will follow at Bayview Memorial Park.