Karen Ann Davison

She leaves behind a loving husband, four other children whom she loved and cherished as her own even though she was not their birth mother, and 10 beautiful grandchildren.

Advice Karen often liked to offer her family was to: ‘Mind your nails-people notice. Go to the symphony and musicals whenever possible, even if it’s not ‘your taste’ and even if you are alone. Never miss the music of the Messiah. Watch for tulips - they don’t last long. Always root for USC (even if your husband went to UCLA). Visit relatives often, and treat yourself to malts at Cook Out and an Irish coffee at GVG-you’re worth it.’

Before she lived her greatest dream as ‘just a grandma’, Karen worked for the Center for Creative Leadership-first in San Diego, then, at age 65, in Brussels, and finally here at their home base in Greensboro. She loved working with people and helping them become better leaders and she loved the Center so much she worked there long after the ‘age of retirement’.

Karen previously had successful careers at Toyota Motors and at her Alma mater, the University of Southern California. Wherever she worked, Karen was diligent, and dedicated and she always found her joy in the camaraderie of her peers.

Karen loved music. She attended college on scholarship-partially for her academic excellence (she was always upset about the solitary ‘B’ she got throughout her entire academic career) and partially for her ability on the piano. Karen continued playing at home, to the delight of her family, until April of this year. She also loved the theatre and the symphony, particularly sharing them with friends and family.

Karen loved Holy Trinity church: her opportunities there to be a reader and chalicist, the pilgrimage trips she was able to take with fellow parishioners to Greece, France and England, her bible study groups and, of course all of her dear friends.

Karen also loved to read and, even more, the people she shared that love with in book clubs here in Greensboro over the last 20 years. She was often known to be reading 3 different books at once, sometimes just so she could attend meetings to see her friends.

Whether it was hosting a party, going on a foreign adventure, sharing a common passion or just a chat to learn the latest about children and grandchildren, Karen enjoyed sharing everything she had, and everything she was, with the people she loved. In a room surrounded by flowers and cards from those friends and family members, she took her final breath and today hundreds of us are saddened by her passing, but so grateful to have shared in her life.

A service will be held at Holy Trinity at a date to be determined.