Karen Ann Sommers of Middletown, Maryland died Friday, March 23, 2012 at Frederick Memorial Hospital, Frederick, MD. She was the daughter of Hope H. Davidson and the late William P. Davidson of Westminster, MD. She was the wife of Gary W. Sommers, his wife of 35 years. She attended Ashlawn, Kenmore Middle and Wakefield High School in Arlington, VA. She was on the Gymnastics Team at Kenmore where she won a silver medal in her Olympics Vaulting performance. She played the flute in the concert and marching bands at Wakefield High. In 1968 she and her family moved to Laurel, MD and she graduated from Laurel High School with the Class of 1970. She played the flute in the concert and marching bands there. She attended the University of North Carolina Greensboro in Greensboro, NC and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education in 1974. She played on the Women's Field Hockey Team. She returned to Laurel and began her teaching career at St. Mary of the Mills School, teaching Physical Education and General Science to the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. In the summers she taught swimming and lifesaving and was a life guard at the West Laurel Pool. She married her husband in 1977 and was involved with a co-operative day school for pre-school children after the birth of their first child. In 1994 they moved to Middletown, MD and she did substitute teaching in the three schools there. She was a loyal supporter of her children's athletic and extra-curricular activities and was known for her crazy hats while cheering on the side lines. She became interested in her husband's Chevrolet Car Clubs as well as NASCAR and attended car shows with him. Their travels took them to many locations including Ireland and New Zealand. She was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church, Middletown, MD where she was Sacristan and taught Altar Servers. Besides her husband and mother, she is survived by three children, Sean M. of Middletown, Kyle W. of Doral, FL, and Meghan K. of Eindhoven, The Netherlands; triplet brothers and spouses, William A. and Amanda of Laurel, Warren B. and Teresa of Gastonia, NC, Wayne S. and Mary Ann of Andover, NJ; her mother and father-in-law, Doris and Robert Sommers of College Park, sister-in-law Jody Sommers of Edgewater, brother-in-law Randy Sommers of Elizabeth City, NC, nieces and nephews and a great-nephew. The family will receive friends on Monday, March 26, 2012 from 3-5 and 7-9 PM at Holy Family Catholic Community, 7321 Burkittsville Road, Middletown, MD 21769. A memorial mass will be offered on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 11:00 AM at Holy Famliy Catholic Community. Interment will be private at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions are suggested to Holy Family Catholic Community.
