Karen Weekley McLeod of Gulf Breeze, Florida, died on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at the age of 68, after a valiant six year battle with leukemia.  She was born on August 31,1955, in Tallahassee, Florida, to Kenneth and Jane Weekley.  Karen grew up in Pensacola where she met and married Mike McLeod on June 7,1975, at the First United Methodist Church, where she was a lifetime member. She attended Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama, and graduated from Auburn University with a degree in early childhood education.  Karen and Mike have two daughters, Jennifer M. Dannelly (Jeff) and Sarah M. Paulk (William), and four grandchildren, Grayson and Harper Dannelly and Sydney and Brooklyn Paulk.  Karen adored them all.

Karen cherished her family.  She loved Mike, her girls, and her sons-in-law. She was extraordinarily connected to her four grandchildren, who were a huge part of her life, as she was of theirs. She spoke with each of them almost daily and was fully invested in their lives. She never missed a concert, recital, tennis match, or dance team activity. Karen was an organizer and an entertainer.  She loved to share her hospitality by celebrating others at birthdays, baby showers, holidays, anniversaries or dinners.  Karen instilled in her children and grandchildren her love of people and family, her strength through adversity, and her joy for life.  She had a special ability to connect with people and she lived with deep faith, joy, and incredible positivity.

Karen had a lifelong love and innate connection with children.  After teaching elementary school for several years, Karen was instrumental in the development of the Learning Enrichment Program (LEP) at First United Methodist Church, Pensacola.  The LEP helps develop children spiritually and educationally; it continues today as the Methodist Children's Academy.  Karen served many years as a Girl Scout leader and taught countless Sunday school classes, positively impacting the lives of many.

The family would like to thank the exceptional care provided Karen by Dr. Donna Salzman, Medical Director, Bone Marrow Transplant, University of Alabama Birmingham Hospital, and her team.  The family also thanks the anonymous "Be the Match" donor, whose selfless donations gave Karen an additional six years with her cherished family and friends.

Karen is survived by her husband of 49 years, Mike McLeod; their two daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren, sisters Kim Weekley and Kaye Westmark (Scott), many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends whom she loved deeply.  A Memorial Service and Celebration of Karen's life will be held at 10:00am, Thursday, May 23, 2024 at First United Methodist Church, Pensacola, Florida, Dr. Henry Roberts presiding. Following the service, a short reception will be held in The Wright Place.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at University of Alabama Birmingham to be used to assist families coping with blood cancer diseases, BMT Unit at UAB, 1720 2nd Ave S. WTI 210 Birmingham, AL 35294 or www.go.uab.edu/karenmcleod