Karysia Lee Demarest

She was born in Coral Springs, FL on July 30, 1968, to Richard and Marysia Connolly.

Karysia was a graduate of Coral Springs High School, and enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1988 where she served as an airframe repair technician and later in public affairs both on Active Duty and in the Air National Guard. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, graduating Magna Cum Laude.

Karysia returned to Florida in 1995, earning her Certified Public Accounting (CPA) designation and began her accounting career as an auditor and tax preparation professional. She later earned her Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation, and focused her work on individual, corporate, and non-profit accounting and tax return preparation. In 2003, she began her seventeen year affiliation with the Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples, serving initially as the Director of Finance before leading the organization as the Executive Director from 2013 through 2020.

Karysia was an accomplished martial artist and Master Instructor, holding Fifth Degree Black Belts in Taekwondo and Hapkido. She and her husband Jim owned and operated Eagle Martial Arts for ten years, teaching students of all ages the life skills of courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and indomitable spirit. An avid traveler, she orchestrated family trips to Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, Costa Rica, Canada, France, the Galapagos, the Virgin Islands, Iceland, Kenya for safari, and to countless locations across the United States. She traveled with Jim to Bonaire, the Bahamas, Germany, Puerto Rico, Switzerland, Norway, Bali, Prague, and most recently Utah where she hiked the Mighty Five National Parks in a week.

Throughout her life, Karysia was a committed to others, providing volunteer accounting to the Gene Doyle Memorial Foundation, and serving as co-chair of the Gene Doyle Fishing Tournament for five years. She will be remembered for her love of Country and Christian music, cats, the United States, and time spent with her family.

Karysia’s is survived by her husband Jim, daughter Gabriela, and son Chad; her father Richard Connolly, her mother Marysia Connolly, her brother Rich Connolly, and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews scattered across the country.

A Memorial Service will be held at Hodges Funeral Home at Naples Memorial Gardens in Naples, Florida at 2:00pm on Saturday, February 13th, 2021. Friends and family will gather at Grow Church after the service. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Karysia’s name to the SEAL Legacy Foundation.