Karen Gervais-Boone was born in San Francisco, Calilf., on Jan. 24, 1959, and passed away Jan. 22, 2007, on Whidbey Island.

Karen grew up in Los Gatos, Calif. and following high school graduation, attended the University of Missouri where she received her degree in journalism. Returning to California, she worked for local newspapers before taking a position in the public relations department of the Hewlett Packard Corporation. She held the position of manager for far eastern relations.

With the transfer of her husband, Dr. John L. Boone to the San Diego area, Karen pursued a different career path. She obtained a doctorate degree in psychology and became a personal coach and interpersonal business relations/team building specialist. She worked with companies such as Washington Mutual, Citi Bank and Intel. She continued in this work following the family’s move to Greenbank on Whidbey Island in 2002.

Her greatest career and life achievements were the births of her two children, Jacob (Jake) in 1993 and Elizabeth (Ellie) in 1998. Her children, her husband and her family were the focal points of her life.

Karen always contributed to the communities where she lived. She served on the boards of her church, organizations involved in hunger programs and other endeavors to make the world a better place. She played a key role in the successful effort to pass the bond initiative in Coupeville for a new high school and co-coordinated the publicity for that campaign.

An accomplished, published writer and a swimmer, Karen succeeded in all she touched.

The emptiness felt by the loss of this incredible woman to her family and friends leaves a void that cannot be filled. She is survived by her husband John; children Jake and Ellie of Greenbank; parents Jim and Jean Gervais of Freeland; brother Ken Gervais of San Jose, Calif.; numerous relatives and a host of friends. She was preceded in death by a niece, Alejandra Macias Gervais.

A memorial service for Karen will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland.