Karen Evertson

I tried to do the best I could.  Sometimes I succeeded, some of the times

I failed, but I tried. I was born in 1952 and grew up outside of Schenectady N.Y.

I was active in all sorts of outdoor activities; swimming, skiing, hiking and canoeing. After graduating from Schalmont High School I attended Ithaca College where I met my future husband William Evertson.  Bill and I were married in 1975 in a simple ceremony on a farm in Ithaca.  We lived in Delaware for two years while Bill worked on his MFA and I began my career as a social worker. After two years of school, teaching, work and travel we moved to New York City.  In 1982 I received a Master of Social Work from Hunter College. I was hired after my social work training at the Metropolitan Center for Mental Health as the Administrative Director.  In 1986 our son Ian was born and we moved to Connecticut where I had a job at Inter Community Mental Health Group as the Executive Director.  After about ten years, I was recruited by the State of Connecticut to develop and run Western Connecticut Mental Health Network as the CEO. My last position before I retired was CEO at Capitol Region Mental Health Center in Hartford, Ct. I value the traits that I grew up with that were further engrained by my social work training; such as, kindness, compassion, treating people the way you want to be treated, helping those in need, honesty and equality. 

There are people who taught me of course.  My father, Robert C Mackeown and mother Gary Wiggin Mackeown. My husband, William and son Ian.  My brother, Douglas and his wife Tamzen, their children David and Caitlin. My aunt Georgia Clingen, her son Eric, his wife Kerry and their children Brian and Elaine.  My father’s sister, Dorothy Mackeown Jeroloman and her children, Charlie Jr, Amy and Robert C. Jeroloman. 

I have been blessed with very special friends who loved me, assisted me and cared for me. Since my diagnoses of breast cancer I welcomed the chance to say thank you to all the people who helped me along the way. They have laughed with me and taught me things so that I could have a wonderful happy life.  I am blessed beyond measure by knowing all of you.  If you think of me and would like to do something to honor my memory here are some suggestions.

Volunteer at a school, library or art museum.

Write a letter to someone and let them know they had a positive impact on your life.

Make someone smile today if it is your power to do so.

If you haven’t educated yourself on global warming – start.

If you haven’t educated yourself on renewable energy sources – start.

Turn off the electronics and take a kid out for ice cream and talk about their hopes and dreams.

And finally as some have said, be kind to one another.

Friends may call at the Spencer Funeral Home 112 Main St. East Hampton on Saturday April 8th from 1:00PM until 3:00PM. In lieu of flowers please donate in Karen’s name to the Middlesex Hospital Cancer Center c/o Middlesex Hospital Department of Philanthropy 55 Crescent St. Middletown, CT 06457 or the Southern Poverty Law Center  400 Washington Ave. Montgomery, AL 36104. To leave online condolences please visit www.spencerfuneralhomeinc.com.

 Service Information