Karen Alice Carlson Bailey

Karen Alice Carlson Bailey went home to be with the Lord, peacefully in her sleep, on February 8, 2019 after a long and painful struggle with her health. A resident of Foster City for nearly forty years and of the Bay Area for over fifty, Karen served her community and her family in profound ways, and is dearly missed.

Born in Dunkirk, New York on October 7, 1943 to Arthur and Alice (Berggren) Carlson, Karen was proud of her Swedish heritage. Her grandparents emigrated from Sweden, and this was a delightful part of her life which she enjoyed sharing with family. As a young woman, she graduated from nursing school in Jamestown, NY, and soon afterward, joined extended family in northern California to begin working in the Emergency Room at El Camino Hospital in San Mateo, CA.

Karen was married in 1964 to Lee Bauman and moved to Half Moon Bay to raise two sons, who were the joy of her heart. Settling in Foster City in 1980, Karen served her community for many years as a volunteer for Missions Hospice, as a dedicated member of AA, at Peninsula Food Runners, through Central Peninsula Bible Church’s Higher Power Ministry, and on the board at Project 90. Her involvement at CPC was extremely important to Karen, as she was a believer in Christ. The many hours she selflessly gave at the local food bank, sponsoring those in recovery from addiction in Alcoholics Anonymous, and blessing countless individuals and their families during the most critical end-of-life moments are a testimony to her faith in God and to her desire to be used by Him to comfort the hurting.

She cherished the beauty up and down the Pacific Coast, enjoying camping, art festivals and her beloved ocean views with her husband of 18 years, Tony Scheffler. This was one of her happiest pursuits.

In her professional life, Karen rose in the ranks from a small real estate office in Half Moon Bay to The Gap corporate headquarters, and finished her career as the Human Resources Manager for TAGO, a biotech company. In her personal life, she will be most remembered for her loving attentiveness to her six grandchildren, unconditional love for her children, prayers for loved ones, generosity as a gift-giver, thoughtful cards and letters for every holiday, affection for her adored dachshunds, kindness to friends, commitment to serving the suffering, faithful tenacity in the midst of physical challenges, affinity for seashells, bears & the color red, her sourdough bread and sincere, loving hugs. Cooking Swedish Christmas dinner with “Grammy,” anytime of the year, will remain a priceless memory for her children & grandchildren, who treasure the many visits she made all over the country to be a warm and loving presence in their lives.

Karen is survived by her oldest son Kris Bauman, his wife Ronna and their 5 children, Dakota (and his wife Samantha), Hannah Grace, Sommer, Creed & Cam, and by her son Kean Bauman, his partner Jamie, and daughter Madison Karen. She is preceded in death by parents Arthur & Alice Carlson, her beloved cousins and friends Marlyn and Phil Duffy, and her husband Tony Scheffler. She is also survived by cousins in the Duffy and Berggren families of CA and NY. A Celebration of Life memorial service is planned for 12:00 noon on May 31, 2019 at Central Peninsula Church, 1005 Shell Blvd., Foster City, CA, with an additional private family ceremony in Half Moon Bay.