Karen Sue Boling

Karen Sue Bair Boling, 60, died February 12, 2015 in Jacksonville. Born August 24, 1954 in Erie, Pennsylvania to Janie Whitaker and Frederick Bair, 15 minutes before her identical twin sister made her appearance. Music was her life. Karen knew she wanted to be a musician from an early age, playing the viola in youth orchestras in Buffalo, New York where she grew up. She graduated from the School of Music at Syracuse University and played in upstate New York before moving to Savannah, Georgia. In Savannah, she was introduced to her future husband by the bass player in the symphony. Karen spent 10 summers in Italy as part of the Spoleto Festival of Two Worlds. There she perfected her Italian and grew to love the Tuscan people and culture. She moved to Jacksonville, Florida in 1988 where she married her husband, Jim Boling on July 5, 1996. She was a violist with the Jacksonville Symphony for 27 years. Karen loved music and taught kids to play and traveled many summers to Italy where she toured and played with various ensembles. Her favorite was opera and she never passed up a chance to play at an opera festival. It was during her last trip in 2013 where she began to have health problems, minor at first. She suffered a series of strokes which left her more and more disabled and she finally had to give up playing the viola. After several months, her suffering blessedly ended early in the morning February 12th when she was finally freed from her earthly bonds. Karen is survived by her loving husband, Jim Boling of Jacksonville; sister Jan Byrne, MD (Jerry) of Salt Lake City, Utah and nephew Matt Byrne also of Salt Lake City. Also, aunts Judy Craft and Mary Pierce (Arthur) of Jacksboro, Texas; Charlotte Damron (Joe) of Graham, Texas; Hazel Bair of Erie, Pennsylvania and many cousins. Preceeded in death by both her parents, her twin sister Judith Pritchett and her beloved Grizzy and Chester. Celebration of life to be held Wednesday February 18 at 2pm at Jacoby Hall in Jacksonville. Ashes to be interred in Jacksboro, Texas and Florence, Italy at a later date. The family wishes to express our eternal gratitude for the love and support from all Karen’s friends and colleagues in the Jacksonville Symphony, especially over the last difficult months. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home of Mandarin 11801 San Jose Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32223 www.hgmandarin.com (904)288-0025