Karen Daum Pelham October 4, 1942 – March 2, 2016

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary (www.wildmustangs.com/#!donate/) and Unbound (www.unbound.org/OurImpact/Donate), an organization that addresses poverty through sponsorships.
 Karen Daum Pelham passed away on Wednesday, March 2, 2016, at the age of 73, surrounded by family at home in Bowie, MD.
 Born October 4, 1942 in Gilroy, CA, Karen was married to Bill, her lifelong husband of 49 years. Together with Bill, she did an amazing job raising five children.
 Karen earned a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from San Jose State University in 1964, and a Masters of Arts in Education from the College of William and Mary in 1991.
 A lifelong teacher, Karen touched countless lives in a teaching career spanning 50 years in California, England, Hawaii, Germany, Virginia, Colorado, and Maryland. She especially enjoyed teaching children the joy of reading.
 Karen loved life and always wore a big smile that brightened everybody’s day. She loved her cats, traveling, horse back riding and playing with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
 She was the life of the party and brought joy to everyone she interacted with.
She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Bill; her brother Frank Daum; children Steve, Mike, Bob, Bryan, and Kris; 12 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren who brought great joy to her life.