Karen Teresa Countryman
Karen Teresa Countryman
Karen Teresa Countryman died on October 21, 2014 of multiple
myeloma.
Karen, the oldest of six
children, was born on April 29, 1949 in Boise, Idaho to Charles R. and Jeanne
C. Donaldson.
She grew up in Boise and
graduated from Bishop Kelly High School in 1967.
She married John Elliott and following the
birth of their son, John Charles Elliott, Karen graduated from Boise State
College of Nursing.
She began her
nursing career at St. Luke’s Hospital.
She later returned to Boise State University and completed her degree in
Social Work.
She worked for the Idaho
Department of Health and Welfare as a Child Welfare Worker, Eligibility
Examiner and Quality Control Auditor.
Karen enjoyed both her nursing and social work careers because she loved
helping people and solving problems.
She
returned to the field of nursing in 2001 and worked at St. Alphonsus Regional
Medical Center and Elk’s Rehabilitation Hospital.
Karen met David Countryman in 1981 and they subsequently married.
They forged a happy and lasting bond, sharing
a similar approach to life.
Dave was her
rock throughout her 10-year cancer ordeal.
Following her diagnosis in 2004, she and Dave packed in a lot of travel
and fun, including three cruises, visits to see family on the East coast and
many trips throughout the Northwest and Canada.
Karen was celebrated for her curious and caring spirit.
She was active in the Idaho British Car Club,
St. John’s parish, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, where she served as
treasurer and home visitor, and the North End Stitch and Bitch Society.
She loved her flower garden, her Boston
terriers, BSU football, driving in the convertible with the top down,
antiquing, and skiing at Bogus and Brundage, especially on blue bird days.
She also deeply and unconditionally loved her
husband, son and large extended family.
She was an extraordinary big sister and aunt.
She simply loved her life and the people in
it.
One week before she died, she joined
her siblings for their annual weekend retreat in Hailey.
One month before she died, she hung up her
scrubs and retired from nursing.
She
lived life fully right up to the last, and never gave up hope for a cancer treatment
that would buy her more time with the people she loved.
She is survived by her husband, David Countryman; her son, John
Elliott; her step-son, Tom Covelli; her step-granddaughter, Taylor Colson; her
step-mother, Doris Donaldson; her sisters, Holly Setzer (Tom), Jean Jewell (Jim
Stubbs), Laurel Herndon, and Sarah Corona (Carl); her brother, Charles C.
“Charlie” Donaldson (Deb Peters); six nieces and nephews; one great-nephew and
two great-nieces.
She was preceded in
death by her parents.
There will be a
celebration of her life on Saturday, November 8
th
at 10:00 a.m. at
St. John’s Cathedral, 775 N. 8
th
St., Boise.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in Karen’s memory
can be made to Doctors Without Borders, the Idaho Humane Society or the
restoration fund for Our Lady of Tears Catholic Church in Silver City.
Or, plant something pretty in her honor.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Karen Teresa Countryman, please visit our flower store.
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