Karen Marie Bowser McCurdy, 65, of Erie passed away Dec. 15, 2018 after a long struggle with lung disease.
The disease took her life, but it never took her spirit or changed her positive outlook.
Born Oct. 15, 1953, in Butler, she was the daughter of the late John B. Bowser Jr. and Lillian Wood Bowser McCulloch.
She married her husband Gary on Sept. 15, 1972. They resided in Butler until 1998 when they moved to Erie for Gary's job.
Karen graduated from Butler High School in 1971 and Butler County Community College in July of 1985 with an associate of applied science degree in nursing and earned a perfect score on the state licensing boards.
As a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Butler, she served as a deacon, taught Sunday school, vacation Bible school, and the church's Wednesday night young people's program (LOGOS).
She excelled at sewing and crocheting and often made clothes for herself, her children and her grandchildren. She also made many afghans and christening outfits for family and friends.
She worked as a long-distance telephone operator with ConQuest for several years and advanced to be the operator in charge of her shift.
Her hard work for the Butler Family Support Group led to the McCurdy family being selected as the Pennsylvania National Guard Family Support Group's "Family of the Year," a statewide honor, in 1988.
She loved to play board and card games but she had the most fun going to bingo with her best friend Debbie, or at the casino playing slots.
She could spend hours searching the Lake Erie shore for beach glass. She was fascinated with owls and had a large collection of the birds made of various materials.
She enjoyed reading and always looked forward to going to the library. When traveling to the library became too difficult, she downloaded books from her favorite authors to her Kindles.
Karen is survived by Gary, her husband of 46 years; a daughter, Heather Goehring of Butler; a son, Scott (Jess) McCurdy of Plain Grove; five grandchildren; a brother, Jack Bowser of Reno, Nev.; a sister, Sandi (Mel) Krogen of Yuma, Ariz.; a number of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends; and her dog, Bella.

Memorial donations may be made to the donor's local library, the American Lung Association or the American Cancer Society.

Arrangements were completed by Thompson-Miller Funeral Home, Butler.
Online condolences can be given at www.thompson-miller.com.

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