Karen was born in Jacksonville, Florida on March 19, 1958. She graduated from Richfield High School in Waco, Texas in 1976. She graduated from Texas Tech University in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics. Karen followed in her father's footsteps and worked in the insurance industry for more than 25 years. In 2001 Karen was selected Miss Tall of the Towering Texans in Houston, Texas and later that year she was selected Miss Tall International. In the short time Karen lived in Sun City, she was involved in and loved her beading class, also involved in Women's Bible Study at First Baptist Church in Georgetown, Texas.
Surviving Karen is her husband, Lynn Cushwa; father and mother, George and Dona Harper of Waco, Texas. She is also survived by her sisters, Janet Larocca and her husband, Dean of Dallas, Texas and Debra Dean Chmelik and her husband Jody of East Bernard, Texas
