Karan Reneé Seyda

Karan Seyda closed her eyes to sleep on her 69th birthday on Sept. 12, 2024. When she awakened, she opened her eyes and immediately saw her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It was simply her time to depart this life, and God called her home.

There’s no need to ask questions about “why”. Karan would not want anyone speculating about her life or health. It was simply her time to be with Jesus.

Karan posted handwritten notes around her house as constant reminders including: “Rejoice in the Lord.” This is a call, NOT a feeling, but a decision and a deeply-rooted confidence that God exists - that He is in control, and that He is good!”

She lived her life filled with joy, adventure, laughter and travel. Her mother always said she could tell how Karan was feeling by whether she was singing or humming. Now she’s doing both to her heart’s content and that of our Savior’s. She’s singing with her mom in a choir led by her favorite choir director (Dwayne) and featuring so many who went before her.

Words of comfort come from several scriptures shared by Karan’s family including John 16:23-24: “And in that day you will ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, He will give it to you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” David, Karan’s dad, shared this verse the day after she left us. What better reassurance do we need?

Karan’s Aunt Martha offered I Peter 1:3-4, 6 which says: “Because of His great mercy, He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials.”

Karan is best described by Proverbs 31:25: “She is clothed in strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.”

Helping others was Karan’s life mission. She assisted her family and friends and their children with science projects, holiday costumes, Christmas musicals, dog sitting and more. One of those children recently shared: “Hi Miss Karan! I know you won’t read this but I just wanted you to know that I love you and I will always have you in my heart and you are so lucky to be walking on the streets of gold! I will miss you forever. I will miss your bday cards and your soft kind voice and your love for fashion. I wish you were here with me and I am so sad you are gone but I will always beat up myself for not saying goodbye. I always love you, Miss Karan.”

The conversations since Karan’s departure covered everything from life as a youth group member on the Island of Kwajalein to singing in the choir at Orlando’s Calvary Assembly, multiple vacations for leaf viewing in the North Carolina mountains, and return trips to California to enjoy great friends. One of her passions was planning and executing the Pyeatt Family Reunions for as many as 80 beloved relatives! Karan worked tirelessly on every detail from accommodations and meals to entertainment for everyone! They were a blast and the time was cherished by all who attended.

A Zoom call with members of her CA Church Youth Group just days after Karan’s departure only amplified her impact on those around her — regardless of location — even 50 years later!

Karan loved and was loved by so many people. She touched those lives with her warmth, smile, hugs, and a zest for life. She was always doing for others in a personal way — from her hand-selected gifts to how beautifully those gifts were wrapped and presented. Then there was her laugh. Loud at times. Silent at times. Intense and always contagious to everyone around her.

Karan’s dad penned these simple statements capturing some of the most memorable attributes of his first-born child: “Karan was never a halfway person. It costs just a little more to go first class. She brought the beauty of Heaven down to Earth in the magnificence of her displays. She was my joy. It was impossible to diminish her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as her Savior. “

Karan cultivated a list of exclusive clients during her four decades of interior design and always made them feel they were making the right choices.

In the last two years, she became her mom’s caregiver, spending a great deal of time in St. Petersburg with her parents, preparing their meals, driving them to and from appointments, and so much more. Following her mom’s departure in April, Karan and her siblings, Byron and Sherry, moved their dad to Orlando where Karan continued in her caregiving role.

Her extended family reached far and wide from her youngest years on Kwajalein and California, to Florida and her deep roots in the Church of God in Cleveland, Tennessee.

A number of Karan’s extended relatives, her brother-in-law, and her mom all made their journeys to heaven before her. Now, her remaining family including her dad David, sister Sheryl, brother Byron and sister-in-law Ranah, countless friends, relatives and clients, rest assured that Karan rejoices in Heaven today.

The Family requests that you add a photo memory of Karan and perhaps a note to the obituary site via the "Add a Memory" section below. These will be assembled in a memory book for her Dad.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to:

J D Pyeatt Scholarship

Lee University

Office of Advancement Services

P.O. Box 3450

Cleveland, TN 37340-3450

A private celebration of Karan's Life will be held by her family.

"She is clothed in strength and dignity and she laughs without fear of the future".

Proverbs 31:25

Calendar Scripture, September 12, 2024

"For you shall go you with joy,

And be led for the with peace;

The mountains and the hills will break

Forth into shouts of joy before you,,

And all the trees of the field

Will clap their hands".

Isaiah 55:12

Karan’s Life remind us to "Rejoice in the Lord”

"This is a call, NOT a feeling, but a decision and a deeply-rooted confidence that God exists, that He is in control and that He is good!"