Karen Ann Medley

Karen “Pookie” Medley was born on May 20, 1963. She passed away from an escalating illness on August 15, 2021. At her bedside were her husband of 27 years and her sister, Michelle.

Pook was a shining star wherever she went.  From Florida, where she ran lights and sound for bands all over the southeast. One even included a then unknown Terry Bollea –aka – “Hulk” Hogan. Another where Roy Clark gave her a shout out from the stage during a show at Red Rocks while she was up in the lighting rigging.

In Colorado she began her lifelong career as a Restaurant Manager. First at Dos Hombres, where she worked for 20 years. It was there that she met her future husband Steve.  Selflessly sacrificing the roots she had put down, Karen followed Steve to Dallas. She then managed the food and beverage department at Plantation Golf Club, where she made – as always – lifelong friends.  Once again, Steve moved and so did she. This time was to her permanent home in Frederick, Maryland. There she began her heralded career at Wag’s restaurant (voted “best bartender”), where she worked for over a decade. The only thing that slowed her down was the pandemic, her illness, and the slowpoke in front of her running the bases on the softball diamond.

She is survived by her husband, Steve, her mother, Ann Palladay of Colorado Springs, siblings Michelle Ford and family, Scott Palladay, Linda Traynor and countless friends who felt like family.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations to her favorite charity, Basset Hound Rescue of Old Dominion (brood-va.org/donate).

Services will be held at Keeney and Basford funeral home (106 E. Church Street) on Thursday, August 19 at 11 AM. All are welcome.