Karen Schwarck (pictured above on the left), a longtime resident with strong ties to the South Lyon community, was killed Sunday night in a snowmobile accident on Mackinac Island.

According to the Mackinac Island Police Department, Schwarck, 59, and her sister, Edith Bonno, 57, of Canton died Feb. 7, when their snowmobile apparently fell off the West Bluff.

According to police, the women were found dead at the scene at the bottom of a steep hill on West Bluff Drive, west of the Grand Hotel. They said alcohol was not a factor.

Police said Karen’s husband, Donald, reported the pair missing at 10:15 p.m. when they failed to return home following a photography excursion.

The women were found a little over four hours later in a search organized by police, Allied EMS and the Mackinac Island Fire Department.

“Karen was my very dear friend,” said Diane Wynings, vice president of the South Lyon Area Historical Society. “She was a generous, funny and caring friend in our youth and she remained so through adulthood.”

Her husband Donald was a former South Lyon city councilman and former South Lyon Community Schools teacher and track coach. He was also a member of the Historic Commission.

The couple retired to Mackinac Island in 2006, becoming residents of the northern Michigan community.

Those close to Karen said she was an artist and writer and loved Mackinac Island.

But to South Lyon residents, she may be best known for her work at the Senior Center.

Karen helped start the center many years ago. She left to start her own travel company, Escapades Tours, first with day trips for seniors and then worldwide travel.

Mayor Tedd Wallace said Karen is the one all the seniors know. Wallace said she saw the Senior Center into fruition with former director Connie Wickersham.

Wallace said her sister, Edith, was special too and together they were a joy to be around.

He graduated with Bonno from South Lyon High School in 1970. When he reunited with her to plan their high school reunion, Wallace said she was still the same old Edie.

Mackinack-area media reports state Schwarck, 59, was on a snowmobile photo excursion with her sister, Edith Bonno, 57 of Canton when it is believed their snowmobiles fell off the island’s rugged West Bluff road.

According to reports, the women were found dead at the scene west of the Grand Hotel.

A search was conducted for hours before the women were found. Karen’s husband, Donald, notified police when the women did not arrive home.

Donald Schwarck, is a former South Lyon city councilman and former South Lyon Community Schools teacher and track coach.

More than two years ago, the couple retired to Mackinack Island, becoming residents of the northern Michigan community.

Karen Schwarck, 59, of Trillium Heights on Mackinac Island and her sister Edith Bonno, 57, of Canton Township were both pronounced dead at the scene, according to Mackinac Island Police Corp. Andy Dziobak.

“It’s very sad,” said Dziobak. “The victims had been out on a photography excursion Sunday but when they didn’t return by 10:15 (p.m.) last night, Schwarck’s husband reported them missing and a search was organized.”

The bodies of the woman were found about four hours later at the bottom of a steep hill off West Bluff Drive, Dziobak said. The area is west of the Grand Hotel.

Searchers included police, Allied EMS and the Mackinac Island Fire Department, he said. Alcohol was not a factor in the accident, police said.

Schwarck’s husband, Donald, is a former South Lyon city councilman and former high school teacher.

Funeral arrangements were incomplete, according to a police press release.

There have been at least 15 snowmobile deaths reported across Michigan since December 11, 2009, according to state police.

Karen Schwark, from Mackinac Island and her sister Edith Bonno from Canton went missing last night.

Schwark’s husband called police when the women did not come back from going out and shooting photos.

They were found early this morning at the bottom of a steep hill on West Bluff Drive.

Northern Michigan’s News Leader has a crew on Mackinac Island working to bring you a full report on the deadly accident.