Karen entered into this world in Durango, Colorado on November 21, 1954 and departed for Heaven from Round Rock, Texas on April 17, 2026. Her father and mother were George and Lucy Ratliff.

During her lifetime, some of her notable accomplishments were:
 - Professionally she was a Registered Nurse certified both as an American Operating Room Nurse and a Certified Nurse Operating Room.

Professional Positions held include:
 - Operating Room Nurse - Cardiovascular Surgery - All Services
 - Staff Nurse - Cardiovascular - General Surgery - All Services
 - Unit Teacher - Cardiovascular
 - Head Nurse - Education
 - Floor Nurse - Vascular/Gynecology - Surgical

 - While at St. Lukes Episcopal Hospital in Houston, she worked with Dr. Denton Cooley in the new field of heart transplant operations. 

 - In 1985 she went to the Cairo Egypt Hospital where she established a Heart Program to include training the staff and equipment setup, and left a fully operational program prior to returning to the States. 

 - She worked at several hospitals as an Operating Room Nurse for Cardiovascular Surgery.

 - She finished her last ten years as a Staff Nurse in the Cath Lab.

She is survived by her brothers Russell Ratliff and Skip Wenz, and sisters Wendy Benson and Susie Prosapio.

She accepted Jesus as her Savior at a young age and went home to be with Him forever in Heaven on 17 April, 2026.