Karen Lee Pool (75) passed away peacefully, on Monday, December 22, 2025 in West Jordan, Utah.
Karen was born on October 20, 1950 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Anna Jo Roskelley and Wayne Forbes Pool. She was their only daughter and youngest of three children. She grew up in Montpelier, Idaho and graduated from Bear Lake High School in 1969.
She then attended Idaho State University, where she graduated with a bachelor of science degree in nursing in 1974. She worked as an RN in the neurosurgical division at LDS Hospital from 1974-75. During this time she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and eventually became wheelchair-bound. Her education continued at Brigham Young University, where she graduated with a master's degree in neurological nursing in 1978. She was an instructor of nursing at the BYU Salt Lake Center off and on from 1976 to 1983. She later turned her focus to nursing informatics and started working toward earning a PhD in 1989 at the University of Utah, but her health concerns prevented her from completing the program. Her career aspirations included personal growth, physical and emotional support and care, and advancing the "art" of nursing. She greatly desired to share her wealth of experience with and even develop interactive computer programs for student nurses.
Along with the pursuit of knowledge, Karen greatly valued faith and family. She was a valiant member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and loved God and her Savior, Jesus Christ. She worked diligently in the family history library and spent countless hours doing genealogy, family history, and temple work. She kept albums full of photos of loved ones and brought warmth and enthusiasm to numerous family gatherings. She was a beloved aunt to many and was famous for rides and wheelies in her wheelchair.
Karen was the first runner-up to Miss Wheelchair Utah in 1979. She was secretary for the Neuroscience Nurses Association from 1985-86. She was a lifelong animal lover and found companionship with several dogs and cats throughout the years. She was fiercely independent in all aspects of her life despite many health setbacks and was an amazing example of how to live joyfully and gracefully through trials. She missed her parents and brothers and looked forward to the day when she could "get beyond the confines of [her] physical body and do that which has eternal impact."
Karen is survived by her sisters-in-law, Carol Pool and Sylvia Pool, along with many nieces and nephews and their children. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers, Richard Pool and Russell Pool.
The family wishes to thank the healthcare professionals who took wonderful care of her over many decades.
A graveside service and interment for family and close friends will be held at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park on Monday, December 29 at 11:00 a.m.