Ida Karen Stanley

Ida Karen Stanley, 74, of Long Beach, MS, passed Sunday evening, November 17, 2024 at her Woolmarket home. 

Karen loved living on the Coast and found enjoyment as an avid fisherwomen with her husband by her side. The couple realized their dream of living on the water prior Timothy’s death in March 2004. One year later Hurricane Katrina would change the landscape of the Ms Gulf Coast and Karen would begin the long road to recovery. 

A native of Long Beach, she was born March 14, 1950, daughter of Willace and Leila Mae Pennell. Karen was feisty yet caring soul and spent years caring for the love of her life Timothy Stanley, her precious mom Leila Mae, and most recently her brother Bobby. 

 Karen graduated Long Beach High School and joined the Air Force spending those years traveling and making friends who she would keep in contact with for years to come. In 1989, Karen earned an Occupational Therapy Assistant certificate starting a long career in helping others. She and her husband opened and operated Coast Rehabilitation Specialists/Adept Rehab. For years she helped others regain a better quality of life, through her own business and later traveling Florida with Encore Rehabilitation Services while continuing to enjoy coast life. Recent years, when she found herself needing care, Bree Demoran came into her life caring for Karen as family. We will forever be grateful for Bree’s friendship and loving care of our loved ones. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Timothy Stanley; parents, Willace I and Lelia Mae Pennell; sister, Phyllis Davis (Wayne); brother, Billy Pennell; nephew, Brent Rufus Davis; and half siblings, Louis Jackson Pennell (Joree), Betty Arlin Pennell Dobbins, Mary Virginia "Amy" Pennell Hawkins, and Marth Paul (Billy).

Survivors include her brother, Bobby Pennell; nieces, Kellye Weinhofer, Kristen Crawford, and Corey Pennell; and nephews, Trey Pennell and John Pennell.

A graveside service will be held  at 10 AM, Tuesday, November 26, 2024 at Southern Memorial Park Cemetery (2076 Beach Blvd., Biloxi, MS 39531)  where Karen will be reunited with Timothy overlooking the Gulf that they both loved so much.  Riemann Family Funeral Home, Gulfport is assisting the family.