Karen Ellen Brown, daughter of Garnet Arthur (1916-1993) and Virginia Anetta (Van Pelt) (1922-2006) Brown, was born 5 February 1948, Newburyport, Essex County, Massachusetts. She graduated in 1966 from Okemos High School. An excellent student, Karen went on to graduate Magna Cum Laude from Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, with a bachelor's and master's degree.
Karen married Roger Lee Bailey on 23 June 1967, Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan. Roger was born 22 September 1944, Lansing.
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Friday 30 June 1967
BAILEY-BROWN
Honeymooning on Mackinac Island and in Sault Ste. Marie are Roger Lee Bailey and his bride, the former Karen Ellen Brown.
Parents of the couple are Mrs. Virginia Brown, 150 Jo Don Drive, East Lansing, and Garnet Brown, 734 W. Grand River Ave., Okemos; and Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Bailey, 864 Downer St.
For the Friday evening ceremony at Wesleyan Methodist Church, the bride wore a street-length gown of Chantilly lace and carried a bouquet of yellow roses and white carnations.
She was attended by her sister and maid of honor, Miss Paula Brown, of East Lansing, who wore a gown of aqua organza and satin, and carried yellow roses.
Best man for the bridegroom was Terry Norris, cousin of the bridegroom, of Lansing.
The couple will be at home in Okemos.
Mrs. Bailey is a 1966 graduate of Okemos High School. She attended Lansing Community College and is employed by Sears, Roebuck and Co. Her husband, a 1962 graduate of Eastern High School, spent four years in the U.S. Air Force and is now a sheet metal apprentice attending Lansing Community College.
Karen spent over 3 decades working in the health care industry. She and Roger had 2 children and were married 34 years before Roger, at the age of 57, succumbed to acute leukemia 12 November 2001 Emmet County, Michigan.
Karen, age 56, died of cancer 10 May 2004, Petoskey, Emmet County.
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Thursday 13 May 2004
KAREN ELLEN BAILEY
INDIAN RIVER, MI
Age 56, died peacefully with her family at her side following a long battle with cancer May 10, 2004 at Northern Michigan Hospital, Petoskey. A Memorial Service will take place on Saturday May 15 at 11 a.m. at the United Methodist Church of Petoskey. Pastor James Mitchum will officiate. Karen was born February 5, 1948 in Newburyport, MA, the daughter of Garnet and Virginia (Van Pelt) Brown. She attended and graduated from Okemos High School. She then attended Western Michigan University where she earned her Bachelor's degree and a Masters degree in public administration, graduating Magna Cum Laude. She married Roger Lee Bailey on June 23, 1967 and the couple made their home in the Lansing area where she worked for the Blue Care Network Health Central from 1978-1998. The moved to Indian River in 1997. She had been working as the affiliation director for the community mental health services in 5 northern Michigan counties. Roger preceded her in death in November of 2001. Karen was a member of the United Methodist Church in Petoskey. Sh was an avid reader but her greatest joy was spending time with her grandchildren. Karen is survived by her son, Matthew and his wife, Diana, of Petoskey, MI; her daughter, Jenny Werth and her husband David of DeWitt, MI; her grandchildren, Mathew and Noah Bailey and Christine and Michael Werth; her mother, Virginia Brown of Saginaw; and many nieces and nephews.