Karen Brown Davis

March 26, 1955 – August 14, 2010

Karen Brown Davis died unexpectedly on Saturday, August 14th, 2010 following a brief illness. She was 55 years old and had lived on Bainbridge Island since 1984. Born in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Karen was one of five children growing up in northern New Mexico. She graduated from Santa Fe Prep School in 1972 and attended Colby College in Waterville, Maine graduating with a B.A. in Spanish in 1976. There she met her future partner and husband, Jonathan (Joth) Davis. They were married in June 1980 in Santa Fe and lived on Fishers Island, New York prior to together pursuing graduate school, Karen attaining an MBA from the University of Connecticut in 1981. They lived for a year in New Haven, Connecticut where Karen helped manage a US Senatorial campaign before Karen and Joth set out for New Zealand, traveling and living in the south Pacific for a time. They moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1983, lived a year in Seattle before moving to Bainbridge Island where for the next twenty-six years they lived a wonderful life. Karen initially poured her energy into their home and growing family over the next ten years. Justin Putnam Davis was born in March 1985 followed by Hannah Melin Davis and Caleb Muir Davis born in March 1987 and September 1989, respectively. Karen remained a dedicated and passionate mom her entire life.

Karen’s children and partnership with her husband were her heart and soul, but she also pursued her own interests, and remained active within the community. She returned to a professional career in mediation training in 1991, working with and attaining a partnership with the Sound Options Mediation Training Group in 1995. Karen’s professional focus was providing mediation and training for school districts over services provided by the State of Washington to children with special needs. She also served for some years on the board of the Kitsap County Dispute Resolution Center. In recent years, Karen was increasingly passionate about creating better opportunities to promote civil discourse among young people. Her expertise was focused on helping people listen and resolve differences by turning difficult conversations into opportunities for productive dialog.

Karen is survived by her husband and three children of Bainbridge Island, and her parents, Lee and Donna Brown, her sister, Leslie Shipman and her brothers, Mark, Merritt and Peter Brown all of Santa Fe. She is also survived by 17 beloved nieces and nephews on both sides of her family. Karen was predeceased by her sister-in-in law, Randi Brown and her beloved nephew, Jensen Brown.

Karen lived her life with passion, integrity and that rare ability to inspire the best from those around her. She was a wonderful, kind friend to many people, whether here on Bainbridge Island or on Cuttyhunk Island in Massachusetts, where she vacationed annually during summers with her family. Karen loved her native northern New Mexico and coastal eastern Maine where times spent with extended family were annual highlights. Karen loved to read, garden and spend time with friends. She loved intelligent discourse, telling stories, walking with close friends, and weekend sailing and hikes with her husband. A remembrance of Karen’s life was held on the beach in Port Madison on Bainbridge Island on Friday, August 20th. The event was blessed by a quiet, beautiful evening, a spectacular sunset and stories honoring Karen’s life. The evening overflowed with love and support from the community of family and friends that had gathered. Karen’s commitment to family and friendships, her authenticity, her constant bright smile, warm humor and honesty inspired others around her. She will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved her.

Charitable contributions may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (www.nationalmssociety.org.) and the Bainbridge Community Foundation

(www. bainbridgecommunityfoundation.org).

A photo documentation of Karen’s life, as well as August 20th’s celebration of her memory can be found at:

http://gallery.me.com/cdufly#100301&bgcolor=black&view=grid

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