Woman who died in Swansea crash remembered by her sister for always being ‘full of energy’

Mike Koziatek
·2 min read

When Karlie Langley was growing up in Swansea, she loved to explore around creeks.

“She always wanted to go explore,” said her sister, Katie Langley.

“Our neighborhood was very close knit in Swansea,” Katie said in an interview. “We just ran around the neighborhood and she was always the one that wanted to go explore or crawl through tunnels or go to the creek. She was always the first one to go do that.”

Katie offered these memories in honor of her 27-year-old sister Karlie, who died in a three-vehicle crash on May 2 on Illinois 159 in Swansea. Three others were injured and police said the crash remains under investigation.

Katie said her sister, who lived in Smithton and worked in a Fairview Heights restaurant, was a passenger in a vehicle that crashed.

“The investigation is still open so I can’t give as much detail as I would like, but know that her family is praying for justice,” Katie said in a statement.

Karlie Langley, 27, died in a three-vehicle crash in Swansea on May 2.
Karlie Langley, 27, died in a three-vehicle crash in Swansea on May 2.

Karlie’s survivors include her 3-year-old son Ryett Benedick.

Visitation for Karlie Langley will be 9:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Metro-East Christian Fellowship at 1790 W. Highway 50 in O’Fallon. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. at the church and visitors are encouraged to wear tie dye clothing in honor of Karlie.

“She was probably the most creative person I’ve ever known,” Katie said.

“From the time we were kids she was always trying to make inventions or put on little shows or dances or whatever. She was always full of energy, full of life.”

Katie said something that Karlie admired was spiders.

“Her love for spiders, though unconventional to some, was a testament to her appreciation for the beauty and intricacies of the natural world,” Katie wrote.

She noted that Karlie’s Facebook page says, “May we raise children who love the unloved things — the dandelion, the worms, and spiderlings.”

The two sisters attended High Mount School in Swansea.

Their art teacher at High Mount, George Wilkerson, praised Karlie’s artistic talents in a message on the GoFundMe page established to help Karlie’s family.

“Karlie was creative, kind and she brought joy to those around her,” he wrote.

Wilkerson said Karlie was a second-grader when she won the Maestro Award as the first-place finisher out of 20,000 entries in the St. Louis Symphony Picture the Music art contest. Karlie’s winning artwork is still on display at High Mount.

Karlie’s obituary posted by Renner Funeral Home described her as a “wonderful artist who was passionate about graphic design.”

Katie said “above all,” her older sister’s “heart belonged to her precious son, Ryett, who brought her immeasurable joy and purpose. As a devoted mother, she poured her love and devotion into nurturing and guiding Ryett, ensuring he felt cherished and loved every moment of his young life.”

Karlie Langley, 27, on the far right, with her son, Ryett, and his father, Mark Benedick.
Karlie Langley, 27, on the far right, with her son, Ryett, and his father, Mark Benedick.
Karlie Langley, 27, in the lower right, and her family. She is shown with her brother, Travis; her father, Todd; her sister Katie; and her mother, Tammy.
Karlie Langley, 27, in the lower right, and her family. She is shown with her brother, Travis; her father, Todd; her sister Katie; and her mother, Tammy.