Karen lived a normal life as a "military brat" making friends in many places across the country until she was diagnosed with a rare form of Thyroid Cancer in her senior year of high school. She went on to graduate college to become an elementary school teacher. She only taught a few years in the NC school system before her illness forced her to give up her career after the birth of her son. She fought bravely for 16 long years before losing her battle with cancer at the young age of 32. She is buried in her paternal family cemetery in Morganton, NC.
Karen lived a normal life as a "military brat" making friends in many places across the country until she was diagnosed with a rare form of Thyroid Cancer in her senior year of high school. She went on to graduate college to become an elementary school teacher. She only taught a few years in the NC school system before her illness forced her to give up her career after the birth of her son. She fought bravely for 16 long years before losing her battle with cancer at the young age of 32. She is buried in her paternal family cemetery in Morganton, NC.