Karen Courter

I was reluctant to post this photograph for a long time because I didn't think some would understand Karen's quirky sense of humor. I don't know why I was afraid to show it in the past. I designed her plaque personally and then had it crafted by a former Disney employee in Florida. Karen wanted people to smile during all moments of both life and death. She recounted many visits to her own father's grave and how somber and depressing it was. She told me that she would never want people to visit her and be sad. In fact, she said that visiting a physical grave was "morbid" and that she would much rather be remembered with smiles. I hope her tombstone brings a little smile to your face as well.

A little about her plaque...The photograph of Karen was taken while she was teaching in her classroom. I always loved how happy she looked in this photograph and decided to have it engraved on her memorial plaque. Consequently, when she died, she was buried in this same piece of attire. Of course, she was a lover of the beach.

She had lived on Tybee Island, GA and in Wilmington as well. In her final years, Wrightsville Beach, NC had become one of her favorite spots on earth. To honor her love of the beach I included a scene from the tropics, as well as two seagulls representing Karen and myself as we traveled through life. The parrot was added due to her love of tropical music. In true Jimmy Buffet style, a parrot is perched on the lower right-hand side of her memorial plaque. Finally the heart and the phrase "Love Ya, Karen" was written BY Karen. This was the very text as she wrote it in dry erase marker on the mirror the morning of her death. I photographed her message to me and using a computer editing program I carefully transferred the text to her memorial plaque so I can always be reminded of how much she loved me (and the world). As for the quote, I debated it for a long time. It was something Karen joked about all the time...but I wasn't sure if it would be respectful. So, I finally decided...YES...she would want family, friends and strangers alike to crack a little smile when visiting her. I can only imagine the faces on unsuspecting passers-by who notice her plaque! I wish I could be there to hear the chuckles she must still bring others...even in death.

If you would like to visit her grave while in the Wilmington area she can be found at Oakdale Cemetery:

Oakdale Cemetery
520 North 15th Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
Tel: (910) 762-5682

She is within the cemetery in:
(section) "Sunrise 2"
Lot 19
Space 1

This is actually a scan of a "proof" with permission from the photographer. Karen we very thrifty and never saw a need to purchase graduation photos. She treasured photos taken with the family more much. However, once she died, I began searching for her actual graduation photo...and contacted the college. Luckily, the proof was found...but no prints.

A few pictures showing Karen's growth through the years.

Karen and I were married on June the 11th, 2000 at Pendleton King Park in Augusta, Georgia by Reverend Kenneth Zarbeck Jr.

Karen and I chose this location because we have always felt a strong bond to nature and loved being outdoors any time we had the opportunity.

Getting to the ceremony location was a chore. Guest had to follow several overgrown dirt trails until they were deep in the woods. As they walked, hidden speakers in the trees played ancient celtic music to set the mood.

After the ceremony a reception was held at Karen's mother's house.

When the reception was over Karen and I drove to Atlanta, spent the night in a hotel, and took a plane to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon early the next morning.

Our wedding was the happiest day of my life!

Unfortunately, Karen died a few days shy of our 5th year wedding anniversary. I expected 20 or 30 wonderful years with Karen; we were robbed.

This picture was taken at Margaritaville in Myrtle Beach while celebrating Karen's 40th birthday; this was her last.

After we ate at Margaritaville we took her to Ripley's Aquarium. Then, to top off the day's festivities, we took in a movie (The Forgotten).

The bag you see in the picture was given to Karen by our son Mitchell. He snuck off and purchased a "parrot head" hurricaine glass for her as well as a hand blown "swizzle stick" with a glass parrot on the top.

Karen could see wonder in a snowflake.

She took the time to appreciate the smallest pleasures of life that many of us miss. I think this picture, taken in Greensboro, North Carolina in January of 2005, illustrates this point quite well. Just look at that cute little smile on her face!

Karen wanted to travel the world. She was most interested in seeing England. Later, she we wanted to see Hawaii, the "outback" of Australia, the pyramids of Egypt and several other countries.

Karen and I were always spontanious. It was not at all unusual for us to plan a massive trip the day before leaving.

I recall one time when Karen said, "You know, I would love Aerie to see Disneyworld soon. She is old enough now." A few minutes later we were making reservations and left the next morning!

On June 26, 2004 we left for Canada. The children had no idea what we were doing. We even packed them without their knowledge...picked Mitchell up from work...and kept on driving. In Ohio Mitchell asked, "What the heck are we doing? I feel like we are going to Canada or something!" I said, "Bummer...he guessed it!" Mitchell was shocked.

We camped in Canada from June 26, 2004 through July 1, 2004. We left on "Canada Day" and really enjoyed seeing what another country did to celebrate its birth!

This picture was taken in downtown Toronto.

As I work in film, Karen often had the opportunity to visit film sets and attend crew parties. Here she is with singer/dancer Ben Vereen and actress Liza Minnelli. Karen was so excited to meet Liza! One of Karen's all-time favorite films was "Arthur" starring Liza Minnelli and Dudley Moore. This crew party was held at a club in downtown Wilmington called The Soap Box for the HBO movie, My Life in Idlewild. This picture was taken on 10/10/04 at 6:34PM.

Karen's favorite movie was the original "Rocky."

Karen enjoys a trip on the famous "Maid of the Mist" at Niagara Falls.

Later, we discovered that, for some reason, our boat had come much closer to the base of the falls than it was supposed to. We didn't care...we had an amazing time and were totally soaked!

June 14, 2000. Karen stands in an Arizona desert just south of the southern rim of the Grand Canyon.

When we got out of the rental car we noticed that there was a silence unlike anything we had ever encountered. All we could hear was the beating of our own hearts.

Later, at the Grand Canyon, Karen said, "Everyone should see the Grand Canyon at least once before they die. This is the closest I have ever felt to God. I feel so small and insignificant here. I am just a small part of a larger universe."

This picture was taken overlooking Gatlinburg, Tennessee on one of our first "family" vacations.

Karen and I will always remember this trip because, for the first time, Aerie began regarding me as "daddy" for the first time. Her brothers, not knowing how to refer to me in the beginning of my relationship with Karen, called me "big Chris." Once Aerie began calling me "daddy" on a regular basis...the boys began doing so as well. This was about 4 years before Karen and I were officially married.

Karen and I were "married" in our hearts about a year after we met. It just took us a little longer to get the official documents to prove it!

Various vacation photos.

In 2004, Karen and I returned to the college where we met (Augusta State University) and she proudly poses next to the door of the "Teacher Development" center.

After years of stuggling through her first marriage, followed by financial woes after her divorce (raising three children by herself) Karen returned to school and attended Augusta State University to earn her teaching degree. On June 13, 1998 she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education and a 3.6 GPA. She then taught her first full year at Windsor Springs Elementary school in Augusta, Georgia. After marriage, we moved the family to the Wilmington area so I could be closer to Screen Gems Studios and constant film work. Karen said, "Honey, I can teach anywhere...you tell me where you need to go and I will always follow." We moved to Leland, NC (just outside Wilmington) and she began looking for work. Being a beach town, the competition was stiff and teaching positions were hard to find. She ended up substituting and working at a local restaurant (Perkin's) to make ends meet while I worked at Hoggard High School and looked for film work on the side.

Karen was hired at Belville Elementary school in 2001 as a 5th grade teacher. Here, Karen taught until her death at the very school she loved. Her dedication to her students was staggering. She was always in "teaching mode" and worked constantly to find new and innovative ways to "get through" to her students. Often, she awoke at 5:00AM and went to sleep around 11:30PM Sunday through Friday. She was tireless and used to say, "I'll have time enough to rest when I am dead."

Karen and our daughter Aerie at the New Hanover County fair in October of 2004. Although Karen enjoyed amusement parks...she would NEVER ride rollercoasters with "loops" or anything that went upside down.

Karen was always a beach person, a lake person...or for that matter...a pool person. Basically, you couldn't keep her away from a body of water. Here, she is at the lake in Augusta, Georgia with our son Chris in hand!

This plaque was presented to my family by the faculty and staff of Belville Elementary school. It hangs on the wall to the right of the entrance to the school's media center.

On the way home from the funeral, moments later, our son Chris had an accident while driving Karen's car. Ironically, she received the title to the car just a month before this event and Karen said it was the first car she had ever owned "free and clear"! The man holding Chris is my father, Wil Courter. The boys were NOT injured in this accident.

This was our first visit to Karen's grave after the funeral. The funeral marker was on order and, being quite unique, would take some time to arrive. All we could do was draw in the dirt...but that didn't matter...in some ways that just brought us closer to the reality of what had happened.