Obituary - Karen Ann Eggen

Karen Ann (Skram) Eggen (March 14, 1942 - August 31, 2018) passed away August 31, 2018, at her home in Spring, Texas after a long battle with cancer.

She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Maurice "Maury"; her children, David Eggen and Kirsten Walsh; son-in-law, Lucien Walsh; sister, Reidun Erickson; and grandchildren, Cassie Eggen, Nathan Eggen, Elie Walsh and Axel Walsh.

She was preceded in death by her father, Alf Skram, and mother, Elie (Aardal) Skram.

A person who always put the needs of others before her own, she was the very definition of selflessness and courage. Although she spent many years as an educator and librarian, her most cherished role was wife, mother and grandmother. She loved her family dearly and always put them before herself. There was not a gentler, sweeter, kinder more generous person in the world than her.

Karen was born in Havre, MT, in 1942, attended high school and college in Montana, then taught for three years on the Rocky Boy reservation in northern Montana before marrying Maury in 1966. In 1967, she moved with Maury and their infant son, David, to Michigan, where Maury attended graduate school. Karen and Maury were in Michigan for 15 years before they moved to San Antonio, Texas, in 1981.

At the same time as she raised her two children, she also attended graduate school and obtained considerable training in library science. The library was always her first love, although she also taught elementary school when she first arrived in San Antonio. She and Maury lived in San Antonio for 34 years while Maury taught at Trinity University. She had a very rewarding career in the public school libraries of the San Antonio Independent School District. There are many children who learned a love of the library from Karen.

Karen retired in 2006 when she was first diagnosed with cancer. Even though the cancer was advanced, she successfully fought it for 12 years before the cancer finally won. During that 12 years she enjoyed traveling all over the world. Her last trip, Karen's trip, was to South Africa, where she was able to see giraffes in the wild. It was one of her fondest wishes, and she enjoyed every second of it in spite of declining health.

Karen's final wish was that her body be willed to support medical research. The family deeply appreciates the care and support it received from Texas Home Health Hospice and their caring staff.

A remembrance and celebration of Karen's life is planned for the springtime, near her birthday in March. Karen lives on through the life she lived, the love she gave, the lessons she taught and the family values she epitomized. She will never be forgotten. Her spirit is strong.

For memorials and more information about Karen please see https://pages.lightthenight.org/nc/Charlnc18/meggen/.