Karen Morrison Jones passed away peacefully and danced her way to heaven on March 2, 2026, with her husband, daughters and dearest loved ones at her bedside. Her final days were filled with the purest love from her family and friends. She was 70 years young, but lived a full and vibrant life. She was born on January 17, 1956 in Sacramento, California, where her father was stationed in the Air Force. She spent two short and sunny years in Sacramento before moving back to Alabama - just long enough to instill in her a love of sunshine that she carried throughout the rest of her life. She grew up in Gadsden, AL with her parents and her younger brother, Tommy. She was fortunate to meet the love of her life at the young age of 14 and married her husband, Mark at 18 years old, just after she graduated from Gadsden High School with the class of 1974. They began their life together while both attending Auburn University. She cherished the two years she spent studying at Auburn, and even more so, living there. She and Mark raised their daughters tailgating and attending Auburn games each year and both daughters went on to attend college at Auburn - it will always be considered a second home. After Mark graduated they both moved back to Gadsden to work for the family business, G.W. Jones Enterprises, alongside Mark's brother Brent and his wife JoAnn, where Karen quickly became an integral part of the business operations.

While running the family business, Karen and Mark built their first home in Rainbow City, AL where they raised their two daughters, along with goats, horses and many other beloved family pets. Her daughters were raised learning how feed baby goats by the bottle, her oldest daughter, Jessica, helped raise and show horses, and they were even able to witness the birth of many foals. Karen was a natural in the garden as well as in the kitchen and was cooking farm to table meals long before that became a trend. Most would say you haven't lived until you've had one of her salads or her famous guacamole. Her secret ingredient was love and she put it into every meal she made. She inspired that same love for cooking in her youngest daughter, Kathryn and also her granddaughter, Raegan, so that legacy will indeed live on.

In 2010 Mark and Karen started building their dream home on the bay in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, eventually moving there full time to enjoy life with their daughters and grandchildren. In every chapter of life they have been blessed with the most genuine of friendships - childhood turned lifetime friends, as well as friendships built in Florida - all of which will live on through Mark and the family.

Karen wore many hats and was full of talents - some that she rarely ever spoke of. Artist, personal trainer, yoga and spin instructor at Fitness Plus, cajon player, gardener, gourmet cook - just to name a few. She loved the sunshine and being outdoors and wanted nothing to do with cold weather, unless of course she was out west surrounded by the mountains and ski slopes - in her element. Wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, friend - she took pride in all of these roles. Her love was unmatched and if you were lucky enough to have it, then you were lucky enough. Her love of music was a big part of her life and she will be remembered for always having the best moves on the dance floor. Perhaps, though, the most extraordinary love in her life was the love she and Mark shared. Married for 51 years, the love story that they shared is one you don't come across often and is a big part of the legacy she leaves behind to all those who have been fortunate enough to witness it. The love, devotion and care extended by Mark during her hard fought battle with dementia was truly one of the greatest examples of love to ever witness - a sliver of a silver lining through such a difficult time.

She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Mark Jones; her daughters, Jessica (Randy) Rintala and Kathryn (Michael) Lyons; mother, Beverly Morrison; brother, Tommy (Jennifer) Morrison, nephew, Quinn Morrison and her five grandchildren; Ava, Raegan, Rachel, Rhett and Julia.

Karen is also survived by many extended family members including brother and sister-in-law, Brent and JoAnn Jones, cousins, nieces and nephews, as well as step-grandson, Hunter (Katie) Lyons and great granddaughter, Lillian.

She is preceded in death by her father, Quentis (Sonny) Morrison, as well as many other beloved family members and dear friends. May they all rejoice together in Heaven.

The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to Karen's caregivers, Michelle Barrow and Marla Meure. The care and comfort that they have provided in the last year to both Karen and Mark and the entire family will never be forgotten. They will always be considered family. A special thanks also goes to the team with Emerald Coast Hospice, who will always come highly recommended by our family.

The family will be planning a celebration of life in the coming weeks and details will be shared at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Dwightfest, LLC at https://www.dwightfest.com/donate - a Santa Rosa Beach non-profit organization created to give back to the local artists, musicians, and service workers that provide the music, art and community that Karen so dearly loved.