Karen Lightizer Gridley, age 82, entered into rest on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas. She was born on July 5, 1943, in Moline, Illinois to Bob and Betty Lightizer. At the age of five, she moved to Texas when her father joined the U.S. Border Patrol. Karen attended school in Langtry, Spofford, and Brackettville, and graduated from high school in Carrizo Springs, Texas. She later attended The University of Texas at Austin, where she earned a degree in Communications.

Karen moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, where her father was stationed, and there she met her husband, Gary Gridley. They later married and lived in New York before moving back to Del Rio, Texas. Karen became a firefighter at Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio. She was the first civilian female firefighter at LAFB.

She loved acting and was a longtime member of The Upstagers in Del Rio. Karen was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who always had a smile and a joke to tell.

She was preceded in death by her parents Bob and Betty Lightizer; her sister, Diane Lightizer Luce; and her nephew, Robert Scott Woods.

She is survived by her sons, Jason Gridley (Margarita) and Clark Gridley (Veronica); her nephews, Charlie Woods (Vicki), Bill Woods (Laine), and Vance Woods (Jacque); and 4 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

The visitation will be held on on Saturday, February 21, 2026 from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM followed by a chapel service at 1:00 PM at Sunset Memorial Oaks Funeral Home, 2020 N. Bedell Ave, Del Rio, Texas.

The interment will follow at the Westlawn Cemetery in Del Rio, Texas.