Kristen Gail Runyon

Kristen Gail Runyon, 44, passed away peacefully surrounded by family and loved ones in Greenville, South Carolina in the early hours of January 16, 2023, after a long battle with kidney disease.

Kristen was born on March 27, 1978, in Alliance, Ohio to parents Harry Runyon Jr. and Shirley Bailey Gibbons.

In addition to her mother and father, Kristen is survived by her children, Nicholas Bland, Connor Reed, and Alyssa Foster; her siblings, Scott Runyon (Doris), Harry Runyon III, and Rebecca Runyon; her fiancé, Alex Loftis; her grandmother, Berti Runyon; numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins; and friends too numerous to count.

Kristen is preceded in death by her stepfather, Paul Gibbons, paternal grandfather, Harry Runyon Sr., and maternal grandparents, Lacy and Bertie Bailey.

Kristen was an outgoing, kind, and loving woman. She loved with her whole heart. Even at her sickest, Kristen could bring a smile to a stranger’s face with a funny story or a witty quip. She quickly made strangers into friends and had the ability to build and maintain loving relationships that last a lifetime. Kristen had the wisdom to love others as they are (warts and all). She also had the mercy to forgive her loved ones and continue to love them, without judgment, regardless of their trespasses.

Kristen and her mother, Shirley, shared an unbreakable bond. Their relationship grew from that of a loving mother and daughter into a pair of inseparable best friends who supported and loved one another through good and bad times. Kristen and Shirley’s love and dedication to each other was evident to all who knew (and loved) them.

The true light of Kristen’s life was her children, Nick, Connor, and Aly. She shared a unique bond with each of her children. Even when she was too sick to get out of bed, the mere mention of her children brought back the glimmer in her eyes and a smile to her face. Kristen prayed daily for the health and happiness of each of her children.

Kristen’s family would like to thank her fiancé, Alex Loftis for the tender care he provided to her as her illness progressed. Their love and connection continued to deepen exponentially as her health declined. Kristen would tell anyone who would listen that you were the love of her life.

A special thank you to Robin Gibbons and Rusty Burrows, our family could not have made it through the recent events without your love and steady guidance. Your calming presence was noticed and appreciated.

Additionally, our family would like to thank Alex’s parents, Randy and Gail Burch for all of their love and support during this difficult time.

Lastly, the family would like to thank Tarena Bailey-Boggs for taking care of our family when we could not take care of ourselves. Your love and compassion are appreciated.

A visitation will be held Saturday, January 21, 2023, from 3:00 p.m. until 3:45 p.m. at Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes, Northwest followed by a memorial service at 4:00 p.m.

As both of Kristen’s sons suffered from kidney disease and received successful transplants (her prayers were answered), in lieu of flowers, please donate in her memory to The National Kidney Foundation, https://www.kidney.org.

You will be missed! (ROCK ON K-10)!

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