Farewell to long-time Bay Area resident, activist, medical worker: Karen McClearey, 1943 - 2014

Karen McClearey, an 11 year resident of Half Moon Bay passed away peacefully on Wednesday October 1, 2014 at the age of 71, after years of battling severe, untreatable spinal pain. She was born in Brown, Texas and traveled quite a bit before finally calling California her home. Karen was the oldest of 3 siblings growing up in Denver, CO.

As a youngster Karen was active in French Club, Debate Team, Swim Team, and Ski Patrol. She was artistic and creative in writing, ceramics, and other artwork. Karen was a cultural enthusiast and collector of unique ethnic items including art, music, textiles, and books – lots and lots of books. She remained a voracious reader throughout her life. Even at the end, she always had a paperback in reach! She played the harmonica and enjoyed a variety of ethnic percussion instruments. One could say she was eclectic.

Karen’s love for travel and knowledge probably started as a 6 year old when she traveled with her parents and stayed for 2 years in Provence, France where her father was awarded ad Fulbright Scholarship. She loved living in France and quickly learned the language. She became increasingly fluent in French throughout her life. The family eventually returned to the US and settled in Colorado, where Karen completed her elementary and secondary education. Karen graduated High School as Valedictorian. She went on to the University of Pittsburgh on a creative writing scholarship. She later transferred to UC San Diego where she graduated Suma Cum Laude with a BA in Social Work, subsequently completing her MA in Social Work at UC Berkeley, again graduating Suma Cum Laude.

Karen entered the Peace Corps as a member of President Kennedy’s first Peace Corps group in the early 1960’s. She was sent to Liberia, Africa for 2 years and returned only after contracting malaria.
 
Karen worked as an activist for both political and humanitarian causes, such as AIDS/LGBT awareness, and serving the poor at Glide Memorial Church in SF. She also worked as an elementary school teacher for special needs kids, a medical social worker in the Contra Costa County Mental Health System, the Lead Social Worker at Mills Memorial Hospital in San Mateo in the Head Trauma Rehabilitation Unit. As an LCSW she maintained a private practice as well as tenure at Kaiser Permanente in Santa Rosa and South San Francisco, the Kentfield Rehab Hospital in Marin, and the Greenery Rehab Center in Pacifica.

Karen was preceded in death by her beloved father LaRue “Mac” McClearey, her mother Phyllis June Wright, her sister Laurie Gaylord, and her Grandma Pansy Wright, all of Denver, CO. She is survived by her life partner of 30 years Nancy deVaurs of Half Moon Bay; her brother Kevin McClearey of Goreville, IL; her nephews Nick Gaylord of San Francisco and Sean McClearey of Edwardsville, IL; and her half-brother Roland Koebrick of Birdsboro, PA.

Karen will be deeply missed by her friends and family. A private memorial service in celebration of her life will be held locally this November. Charitable donations in Karen’s memory may be directed to Doctors without Borders, UNICEF, Peninsula Humane Society, and Coastside Hope.