Words cannot begin to express the vibrance and spirit of
Karen Marie Gray. The world lost a sarcastic, loving, witty young woman on
December 5, 2022, when she closed her beautiful blue eyes for the last time.
Since she was 12, Karen suffered from debilitating vestibular
migraines, which caused her such bad vertigo and pain that she called them drop
attacks, but she fought through them to live an active life full of laughter
and love. She attended Penn State, the Behrend College, and studied business
and marketing. Her quirky sense of humor and incisive mind captivated family, friends,
and coworkers alike. A talented employee for Spectrum, she was their top
recruiter.
Karen and her fiancée, Brian Colvin, delighted in working on
their century-old home in Erie and playing with their golden retriever, Tucker.
Brian was by Karen’s side for over eight years, taking amazing care of her
through her illness. They met at friends Brittany and Russell’s stag and drag,
and Brian found the courage to ask her on a date. Her mom credits Brian’s steadfast
love and unwavering devotion with helping Karen to find her voice and to
blossom into the amazing person she became. Her brother Dan was proud to give
Brian his stamp of brotherly approval.
Karen was the proud and protective older sister of David and
Dan, who both adored her. She cared for her brothers through their struggles
with cancer and was the strength that kept her mom going when they died. As a
child, she loved taekwondo at Master Park’s with David and her mom. She would chase
her brothers through long summer afternoons and evenings in innumerable
childhood games of tag, hide-and-seek (with squirt guns!) and kick-the-can. She
enthralled them with creative stories and enlisted them as talent (sometimes
unwillingly—sorry, Dan!) to act out her many dramatic plays.
Brittany and Cassie, Karen’s best friends, loved to hang out
and plan adventures with her. Brittany said, “Karen’s passion, love, and kindness
were evident in everything she did. She never took shortcuts in life, whether
it was work, friends, or family. She loved hard and hugged harder!” Anyone on
the receiving end of one of Karen’s hugs would agree.
Karen’s friend, Kdogg, agreed, “She was always there for me
when people would make fun of me because of my disability. Now she is my
guardian angel in heaven.” Others share similar stories of her fierce advocacy and
friendship.
Karen was a dedicated dog person, for certain. She and her
first dog, Maxie, were inseparable from Karen’s birth. They would curl together
to sleep, and Karen learned to walk by holding onto Maxie—toddling beside her. She
nurtured that bond with dogs throughout her life, loving Molly, Tank, Ein, and
others. She would bring Tucker over to her mom’s house to cavort with Dan’s
corgi, Mila, almost every day.
Karen and her mom spent weekends walking together in
beautiful Glenwood Park and other Erie locations. Like her whole family, Karen
took joy in music. Her mom fondly remembers her daily singing and playing all
the songs from Cats, the musical (all day long!), and movement of any kind. Karen
loved yoga and dancing to “All the Things She Said,” her favorite song by t.A.T.u.
We are certain she is singing, laughing and dancing with her brothers and her
angel soulmate, Ali Fuhrman, this moment, now that all their pain and struggles
have ceased. They were and are inseparable.
Karen leaves behind her mother and best friend, Mary Golba
and fiancé Brian Colvin, and her father Bob Gray who shared his deep love of
sailing with her; as well as her wonderful Nonna, Anita Golba; uncles Andy,
Greg, Jamie, Paul, and Joe; aunts Denise, Margot, Kerry; and many loving
cousins. She will be forever missed by her beloved friends Brittany Skrzypczak and
Cassie Brennan Joint.
Arrangements are under the care of Burton Quinn Scott Cremation
and Funeral Services West Ridge: 3801 West 26th Street
Erie, PA 16506. Visiting hours for Karen will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on
Monday, December 12, 2022, and her funeral will be held in the chapel at the
same location at 10:00 a.m., on Tuesday, December 13, 2022.
Memorials in Karen’s name can be made
to Erie Humane Society or Anna Shelter.
