Karen P. (Parker) Stevenson

Karen Elizabeth Parker Stevenson of Newville, Pennsylvania, formerly Leesburg, Virginia, passed away peacefully in her home on February 15, 2024. Karen was surrounded by her family when “Jesus took her home.” Karen was 81 years old.

Karen or Grammy, as she was called by those who loved her, was born in Chicago, Illinois on October 4, 1942. She was the oldest child of Philip & Edna (Clemens) Parker, sister to John and Cynthia. The family lived in Des Plaines, Illinois. Karen was exposed to scarlet fever when she was young and spent time with her grandparents Lucy & Willard Parker on their family farm in McConnellsville, Ohio. Karen was able to spend precious time with her beloved Uncle Don, who flew B-17 bombers during WWII. The Parkers moved to Cincinnati, Ohio where Karen would fly with her Dad, doing touch and go landings at the age of 10 in his red Bellanca. Karen and her family enjoyed summers in Saugatuck, Michigan with cousins Bill and Phillip Parker and Jerry and Carole Spindler. She lived in Mission, Kansas during her high school years, attended the University of Kansas and then moved to Newtown, Connecticut with the family.

Karen married Russell Manz of Newtown, CT in 1963 and they had two daughters, Kathy “Kelly” and Kerri-Ellen. After the divorce, Karen and the girls moved to Dunedin, Florida to be near Karen’s family. She met the love of her life, John Hughes Stevenson, at Honeywell where she worked as his secretary. John and Karen married in 1968, combined their families and were blessed with two more children, Meghan Charly and John Phillip. The Stevenson’s followed John’s career in the computer industry to Sayville, New York, Willingboro, New Jersey, Mission Viejo, California and finally settling in Northern Virginia. Karen always worked in healthcare, from the ER admissions desk at Southside hospital on Long Island, to managing a team of Orthopedics in Herndon, Virginia, including the Redskins team doctor. Karen, John and the kids enjoyed a life full of beloved pets, soccer games, horse shows, beach days, snow skiing, travel, cheering for Army football and visits with close friends from all over the country. A talented artist, Karen painted, sculpted, and wrote beautiful calligraphy. She was painting beautiful watercolors up until the final weeks of her illness. She was also a very talented piano player. Karen was full of life, always cracking jokes and making people feel welcome and loved. She wanted everyone to call her Grammy and she was a prayer warrior with a faith that never faltered.

Karen is preceded in death by her husband, John, her parents, Phil and Edna Parker and grandson, Richard Marron.

Karen is survived by her sister Cynthia of Palm Harbor, Florida, her brother, John Parker and wife Donna of Dunedin, Florida and her children; Kelly Manz of Newville, Pennsylvania, Kerri-Ellen Brown of Leesburg, Virginia, Charly Lynn & husband Billy of Newville and John P. Stevenson of Ocala, Florida. Grammy is missed by numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and her large extended family.

Services will be held at a future date at the United States Military Academy at West Point. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Homeland Hospice.

Homeland Hospice
Attn: Myra Badorf, Asst. Director of Development
2300 Vartan Way, Suite 270
Harrisburg, PA 17110

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