Karen Perry

PITTSTON – With a smile that lit up the room, a passion for coaching young athletes and a never-ending loyalty to those closest to her, Karen Perry was a beacon of light for all who knew her. Sadly, Karen lost her battle with cancer on Jan. 1, 2025, after a valiant three-year fight.

Karen Elizabeth Perry was born at Fort Devens in Massachusetts on March 2, 1958, to the late Col. William and Joyce Arata Perry. After years of military relocation, she and her family settled in Gardiner where she was a three-sport athlete at Gardiner High School showing prowess, especially in field hockey. She graduated from Gardiner High in 1976 where she was a proud member of its first basketball state championship team. She continued her education and outstanding athletic career at Norwich University where she was an All-Conference field hockey player. Karen graduated from Norwich in 1980 and was eventually installed as a member of the Norwich Athletic Hall of Fame.

She returned to her beloved Gardiner to begin a teaching and coaching career that spanned three decades and influenced numerous student athletes. She taught math, coached field hockey, basketball, track and softball and eventually became the first female Athletic Director at Gardiner High. Karens support on the field and in the classroom is cherished by all coaches and teachers who worked alongside her and those students she spent time with.

Karen was a member of the Maine Field Hockey Association, the Maine Field Hockey Officials Organization and the Maine Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. She thoroughly enjoyed camping with friends, snowmobiling in the Maine woods, traveling to warmer climates and sharing a blueberry beer with friends and family at her cherished camp on Cobbossee Lake.

Karen is survived by her brother John Perry; her nephew Kyle Perry and her niece Sierra Perry; her grandmother Avis Millett; her aunt Shirley Arata; and several cousins.

Special thanks to Dr. Jason LaChance and his team at Women’s Gynecology Cancer Center in Scarborough, Dr. Jodie Hermann and the 2 West staff at Maine General, Dr. Abby Hoke of Gardiner Family Medicine, her home health care team led by Jessie and especially the many friends, that she called family, who visited,” sang” Christmas carols and made her smile – we are forever grateful for your support and compassion during KP’s journey.

Karen’s visiting hours will be held from 4 – 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 22, at Staples Funeral Home, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner. A Memorial service will be at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 23, at the First Baptist Church, 47 Church Street, Gardiner, with a reception following at the Gardiner Elks Club, 148 Cobossee Ave. Gardiner. A memorial gathering to celebrate Karen’s life will be held later this summer at The Cobb.

Arrangements and guidance are in the care of Staples Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 53 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner, Maine.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Staples Funeral Home website, http://www.staplesfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers,

Karen requested that donations be sent to the:

Chrysalis Food Bank

PO Box 542

Gardiner, ME 04345