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Condolences:
Robyn Potter and Mim Walker
Sorry for your loss. She was always so sweet and will be greatly missed by all.
Susanne Drew
Dearest Marya, My heartfelt sympathy and empathy sends my love and prayers. Only knowing you for several years, I had an immediate friend in your light spirit, Godly character and your love of family and friends. Unfortunately, I did not have the honor of meeting your lovely Mother. Yet I feel I knew her by knowing you. I love you,
Robyn Potter & Mim Walker
Love and condolences to the family - Karen was very special!
Cindy Franz
Condolences to your family. We are sorry to hear of her passing and keep your family in our prayers daily! 💜 The Franz family!
Kathleen Maurer
Karen was a long time of mine since she moved here. We were active together in the IAA as well as the First Presbyterian Church. Every Sunday we would sit together. Don sat next toe me and Williamon the other side. We allenjoyed being together. We would also love going to their Christmas gatherings each year.She worked tirelessly at the art gallery.
Diane Voyentzie
What an honor to read such a well lived life. Karen was a member of our art group in the early 70s. We all loved her spirit, her warm personality, her generosity and her love of life! She was one of a kind! Much love to her dear family..
Adrienne Grossbard
What a lovely tribute to a wonderful woman. My sincerest condolences to the entire family.
Mary Ann Howat
My husband Bob and I had some wonderful dinners with Don and Karen
Anne Neill-Megalaa
I remember the day Karen took me to her studio in Fernandina Beach. While there, she selected and generously gave me two small framed watercolors of the pretty town, including one of a lighthouse. These now hang in my living room in Cairo, Egypt, along with one of her paintings of Norris Lake, Tennessee. But my favorite is a painting Karen gave my mother Charlotte, one which has now been passed on to me. In it, I am on my mother's lap and she is reading to me. These are just a few of Karen's paintings that have "taken a life of their own" as they all hold such precious memories for me of family. I am so grateful for Karen's remarkable generosity.
Georganna Mullis
My friend and comrade in art. You will be missed and remembered with great fondness I know there is a special place in heaven for you as “head of the art angels “.
Mike & Lisa Carr
Karen was wonderful, kind person. She will be missed by everyone whose lives she touched. Our sincere condolences to all of your family.
Arlene and Steve Filkoff
This is such sad news. What a wonderful human being! She and Don were such great citizens of this community!
Robyn Potter & Mim Walker
Condolences from Robyn Potter and her mother Mim Walker. Karen was a sweet person and will be greatly missed.
Karen McFadyen
2023-11-05
Karen Ann McFadyen of Fernandina Beach, Florida, passed away on November 5th, 2023, peacefully in Marietta, Georgia.
Karen was born on January 31, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois to the late Karl and Joan Hoeglund. She grew up on the south side of Chicago and discovered her love of art at an early age. By the age of 12, she was taking classes at the Chicago Art Institute. As a student and cheerleader at Morgan Park High School, Karen met the love of her life, Don McFadyen. After graduating, she and Don moved to Bowling Green, Ohio to launch their amazing adventure in life as a young couple…soon to be young parents.
Karen and Don had 3 children while living in Ohio. Their son, Donnie and daughters, Marya and Charlotte. In 1966 the family moved to Gainesville, Florida where Don began his teaching career and Karen settled into her art and role as the most creative, patient and kind mother on the planet. As a family, the McFadyens built a cabin in the woods, naming it CharMarDon Farms…. a respite for family and friends to gather and escape the chaos of life. Karen’s highest priority was her family. She created a home life for the McFadyen clan that was beyond compare. The energy of playing outside, creativity, getting involved in athletics and fostering friendships was balanced by enjoying nature and appreciating the little things in life. She made sure her family experienced fun and adventure while protecting quiet time for reflection and curiosity.
Through the 1970’s Karen worked as a graphic designer for businesses in Gainesville, Florida, and an illustrator for the entomology department of the University of Florida. She continued to show her fine art in various artisan guild galleries. The 1980’s brought Karen and Don to the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas, where the adventurous couple ran the Rainbow Drive Resort on the White River. Karen’s art concentrated on landscapes and still life. Her award-winning works were seen in exhibits throughout the Southeast.
After running the fishing resort for 12 years, Karen and Don returned to their beloved Florida. In 1992 Amelia Island was chosen by Karen and Don for their family and retirement years….They loved small town living and spoiling their children and grandchildren with frequent visits to Grandma and Grandpa Gator’s house.
Karen opened her studio on Centre Street in historic Fernandina Beach. Here she worked on her paintings and taught drawing and painting for many years. One of her students proclaimed, “Karen, you didn’t teach us how to draw…. you taught us how to SEE.” She held that as the highest compliment.
Karen received many awards for her paintings, and accolades for her community involvement. An early member of the Island Art Association, she served on the Association’s board and was also Gallery Director and President. She was instrumental in the coordination and development of the Association’s activities building as well as the planning for one of Florida’s largest art shows. Karen was also a life member of the St. Augustine Art Association and a Patron member of the Portrait Society of America. She was awarded Volunteer of the Year for the arts by the city of Jacksonville for developing children’s coloring books.
Most of Karen’s works have been sold or are now in private collections. Her philosophy about her art was that every painting had a life of its own when it left her studio…. She welcomed the unknown journeys of her paintings to be inherited, sold or donated. She was always grateful that she was able to inspire someone through her art.
As a friend recently said, “Karen was so easy to love.” She was kind, thoughtful, beautiful, humble, wise, strong, graceful, encouraging, compassionate, spiritual, generous, loving, and positive beyond measure.
Her perseverance in life was a source of her positivity and ability to live in the moment. She will be deeply missed, yet her spirit lives on because she taught us to see…..
In addition to her parents (Karl and Joan Hoeglund) and two sisters (Joan Fales and Marya Devos), Karen is preceded in death by her husband, Don McFadyen, and son, Donnie McFadyen.
She is survived by her daughters Marya Callahan (Michael); Charlotte Kampovsky (Kurt); daughter-in-law Gayle McFadyen; 8 grandchildren: Rachel (Hunter), DJ (Kayla), Sara (Hunter), Erin (Jake), James, Kyle (Mary), Kathryn, Karen and 5 great grandchildren: Bryson, Kami Grace, Silas, Henley and Zoey.
Funeral Services will be at 11:00 am on Thursday, November 16th at First Presbyterian Church, Fernandina Beach with a reception immediately following in the Fellowship Hall.
Donations can be made to the Island Art Association and First Presbyterian Church of Fernandina.
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