Karole Marie Huntley

Karole loved the idea of planting trees. Thank you to everyone who contributed to make “Karole’s Grove” possible.

 

 

 

Karole’s Story

 

On November 14th, 1984, on a sunny afternoon in the Republic of Panama at Gorgas Army Hospital, God delivered a guardian angel to us. We named her Karole Marie Huntley. Although Karole was born in an Army hospital, she was an Air Force Brat. After Panama, she lived with us in Utah, California, South Dakota, Montana, Texas, and Colorado. She graduated from Rampart High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 2003.

 

In 2007, after graduating from Colorado College, Karole worked in Colorado and Arkansas in computer sales before deciding to transition into another occupation.  Karole graduated in 2014 from the University of Maryland, University College, with a Master of Science Degree in Cybersecurity Policy. This triggered a career change into cybersecurity and a new direction in her life. She moved to Texas. After a few years, she returned to Colorado Springs to work as a defense contractor at Shriever Space Force Base. At Shriever SFB, she met her future husband, Jeremy. They married in a private ceremony in November of 2024 and had their public wedding celebration in February of 2025.

 

Karole had many hobbies and enjoyed giving gifts. She tried everything: painting, drawing, models, sewing, knitting, crocheting, and a variety of other arts and crafts. Karole was well known for her homemade gifts. They were well-made, and either fun, beautiful, or both. She also used her talents to make parties special.

 

Karole enjoyed entertaining. She regularly had one-on-one teas with her sister and various friends. She used special teas and teacups. She also hosted or co-hosted parties and events of different sizes and types. Whether a birthday, anniversary, holiday, or just for fun, she provided her full energy and creativity. Everyone had a party favor and a memorable experience.

 

Karole was a unique and joyful individual with a tremendous sense of humor. At one point, Karole was called an odd duck. She replied, “I’m not a duck, I am a flamingo.” Karole had an abundance of spirit and loved openly and fully. Family was everything to her. If she called you a friend, then you were also family. She would be forever loyal and protective, and you would know the depth of her compassion. If you were lucky to be part of her Ohana, you were deeply blessed.

 

Karole was not someone who wanted to be defined by her illness. However, it is tremendously difficult to describe her life without talking about her health over the years.

 

In August of 1993, when Karole was eight years old, she was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder. It prevented her kidneys from maturing as she aged, resulting in chronic kidney failure. The Air Force rapidly medevaced Karole from Great Falls, Montana, to the Brook Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. There she underwent several days of painful testing. Before the family could return to Montana to pack up and move to Texas, her parents had to learn to give her injections. After practicing, Karole’s parents had to give her an injection to graduate. After her father gave her an injection, Karole started to bleed, and her father let out a tear. Karole reached up, touched his face, and told him it was okay. This level of compassion at age eight was overwhelming. She never lost her kindhearted nature, as many friends and family members could attest.

 

In order for Karole to receive the needed level of care, leadership in the Air Force moved the family to Colorado Springs to get treatment at Denver Children's Hospital. At age 10, Karole learned to give herself her own injections so she could visit places without her parents. This allowed her to spend a month in Alaska with her aunt’s family.

 

In August of 1997, Karole’s kidney function fell low enough to start peritoneal dialysis. Karole didn’t let dialysis slow her down. She continued martial arts and competed in several tournaments. Karole learned to clean her port site and connect herself to the dialysis machine, so she could spend more time with friends rather than with nurses.  Despite scarring and tubing on her abdomen, at dialysis camp, she fearlessly wore a two-piece swimsuit.  She encouraged other kids to take greater autonomy over their health care and to embrace the beauty and strength of their medical challenges.  Karole’s attitude and independent spirit inspired them to return to activities they had given up. This prompted the Children’s Hospital to feature her in a Denver television news segment and in a magazine article.

 

Age 14 was an important time for Karole. She called being “14 on the 14th” her “golden birthday” and wished for a new kidney.  Her wish came true several months later on August 19, 1999.  Karole had just started her first day as a freshman in high school when she was called into the office.  Completely baffled as to what it could be about, she was informed that her parents were immediately on their way to pick her up, as Denver Children’s Hospital had called and told them to prepare for a kidney transplant.

 

The transplant gave Karole more energy, more freedom, and 26 more years of life. The next year, she traveled with her family for six weeks through Europe. She went to an archaeological dig in Scotland for two weeks. Later, Karole and her sister headed up a Children’s Hospital fundraiser called Fusion of Arts. They combined Karole’s martial arts and her sister’s dance into a unique, entertaining show. Karole graduated from high school with honors, did well in college and in future jobs, bought a home, and got married. She always called her transplant day her “re-birthday” and celebrated it every year. Karole’s gratitude for that lifesaving gift was always in her heart. That event is the reason August was chosen for Karole’s Celebration of Life. Her age at the time of the important outcome is why 14 trees are being planted in a park near her parents. The bench is for all who loved her and so they can sit and enjoy Karole’s Grove, possibly with a cup of tea.

 

Unfortunately, there was a cost that came with Karole’s transplant miracle: her immune system would be forever compromised. She would be more susceptible to infections and disease. Most of her 26 years of rebirth were filled with happy adventures and loving memories. However, in March 2025, one month after her wedding celebration, she received a call telling her she had cancer. It was a rare, aggressive skin cancer called Merkel Cell Carcinoma. As a transplant patient, her life expectancy was half that of a regular patient. She was already stage three. Just after her surgery to remove the tumors, she was stage four. She put up a tremendous fight and tried many different treatments. She briefly received positive news in November 2025. But a few days later, a blood clot destroyed her transplanted kidney, and she had to start hemodialysis. This made fighting the cancer more difficult. She was in and out of the hospital with complications, but she was home for a lovely Christmas, Easter, and visits with many family and friends.

 

In the final days of her life, Karole continued to think of others. She created birthday messages for her two nephews for the coming years and assigned gifts for friends and family.  During visits, she always asked her guests how they were doing and genuinely expressed her love and gratitude for the shared relationship. Near the end, her mom asked if she was worried about her parents. She said, “Always.” She also planned a post-death dinner for her family to help them with their grief.

 

One of the last prayers she shared with her mom, she said, “Thank you, God, for all that you have given me. I’ll see you soon.” On May 8th, 2026, at 3:36AM, she returned home to our Lord. She brought joy to many lives and is dearly missed.

 

Even in death, Karole is still continuing to go on adventures.  Her ashes have already visited 7 National Parks and the Pacific Ocean.  Her family will forever include her in their worldly expeditions and continue to cultivate a love of learning, exploring, and wonderfully weird audaciousness!  We love you.

 

Karole is survived by her husband Jeremy Supersad; her parents Ronald and Ruth Huntley; her sister Kathrine Callahan and her husband Josh Callahan; her nephews Connor Callahan and Riley Callahan; and her grandfathers, Ralph Colborn and Donald Huntley.

 

To contact us, please use this special email address:  karolecelebration@gmail.com