Gulfport Teacher, Largo Resident, Mother Of 2 Dies Of Coronavirus

GULFPORT, FL — A Gulfport Montessori Elementary School teacher has joined the growing list of Florida teachers and staff who have died after contracting the coronavirus.

Karen Mishley, 36, a prekindergarten and kindergarten teacher at the Montessori school, 2014 52nd St. S, Gulfport, died Oct. 9.

Survivors include her husband, Patrick, and two young sons.

Mishley studied exceptional education at St. Petersburg College and was pursuing a master's degree in early childhood special education.

A graduate of Gibbs High School, Mishley and her family moved to Largo in September 2020.

She loved plants and was active with the St. Petersburg Plant Society.

That's how Annie Johnson Sprague of Mitch Armstrong Nursery met her.

"I met Karen Mishley during the craziness of 2020 COVID time through our area plant club and she visited our home nursery many times," Sprague posted on Facebook. "A beautiful young soul, teacher, young wife and mother, Karen just adored plants and they brought her much joy. We shared lots of conversations about plants, of course, but also cherished personal conversations about life and family, kids and life's everyday challenges."

Sprague said Mishley and her husband had been looking for a house of their own for quite a while. The last time she contacted Sprague, Mishley told her they'd finally found a house.

"She was so happy, and was so looking forward to creating her own garden and she sent all sorts of pics of her dream plants she wanted help in finding," Sprague said. "I was so happy for her and her family that they were going to be able to finally put down some real roots. I am so glad that I got to meet this beautiful soul and thankful for the times we had together. I know she's going to create a beautiful garden up in Heaven."

Mishley is among 102 teachers in Florida who have died in the current school year from COVID-19.