Karen Schultz Alexander

Karen Schultz Alexander, age 71, of Greenville, SC, died peacefully Wednesday evening, January 3, 2018, at McCall Hospice House, with her son by her side. Born April 18, 1946, in Alton, IL, she was the daughter of the late Norman Henry Schultz, Sr. and the late Marie (Jackson) Schultz and sister to the late Norman Henry Schultz, Jr. Before Karen began grade school, the Schultz family moved to Greenville, SC. Karen attended Wade Hampton High School and the University of South Carolina at Columbia. In 1967, Karen married the love of her life, Edgar Burton Alexander, Jr., called Bert by his friends and family. Over the years, Bert’s career with Novartis Pharmaceuticals relocated the pair and their two children to many different places—Spartanburg, St. Louis, New Jersey, Atlanta, and Little Rock. In 2006, Bert unexpectedly lost his life while on a mission trip in Nicaragua. In 2007, Karen followed through with their plan to move back to their hometown of Greenville, where her son had settled and her father, brother, cousins, and nephews lived. Karen was a beautiful person, inside and out. She radiated sincere warmth and love of life and brightened the lives of so many. She was an honest, funny, and especially caring friend, and a nurturing and treasured mother and grandmother. While her loved ones feel a profound sense of loss at her passing, all find some comfort in knowing that Karen looked forward to the day she would once again reunite with her beloved Bert. Karen was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Greenville. She is survived by her daughter, Ashlie Alexander Martinez of San Antonio, TX, her son and daughter-in-law, Parks and Claire Alexander of Greenville, SC, and five grandchildren: Gabriel Martinez, Laurashlie Martinez, Hannah Martinez, Lillian Grace Alexander, and Fisher Alexander. Memorial services for Karen will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, January 13, 2018 in the Chapel of The Mackey Mortuary, 311 Century Drive, Greenville, SC 29607, with Rev. Tom Patton, father-in-law of Karen’s son, officiating. The celebration of her life will continue following the service at the home of Parks and Claire Alexander, 200 Trails End, Greenville, SC 29607. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations may be made to the Cancer Society of Greenville County at www.cancersocietygc.org, to aid local families battling cancer.