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ful rounding %u2014 are already improving patient satisfaction. Her advice to the next CNO is simple and wise: %u201cSeek first to understand. Keep a positive attitude. See the big picture. Stay open-minded, persevere, and be resilient. If you do what%u2019s best for the organization and for nursing, you%u2019ll be successful.%u201dEASING INTO RETIREMENT Now, after 46 years of dedication to the organization she helped shape, Karen is ready for her next chapter. Her husband, Lowell, has been retired for several years, and she%u2019s eager to join him. With six grandchildren and a seventh on the way, she%u2019s looking forward to days filled with family. %u201cThey keep us very busy,%u201d she laughed. Her plans for retirement include volunteering at St. Peter%u2019s Catholic Church, catching up on house projects, reading more, walking more, and traveling %u2014 starting with a trip to Paris in April 2026. She also hopes to learn piano purely for the joy of it. %u201cI am just looking forward to growing in every way, physically, mentally, and spiritually,%u201d she said, %u201cAt every level, I feel like this is an opportunity to grow, give back, sum up the life I%u2019ve had, and do something good for someone else, for my family, and enjoy the time that I have.%u201d Her legacy is unmistakable. As Beaufort Memorial President and CEO Russell Baxley shared, %u201cKaren%u2019s 46 years of dedicated service have shaped Beaufort Memorial%u2019s identity and strengthened its legacy across our community and state. Our next CNO will have very big shoes to fill. Her leadership and presence will be deeply missed by all of us.%u201d From Karen%u2019s beginnings as a young nurse to leading the entire Beaufort Memorial nursing team, she has influenced the hospital%u2019s evolution and supported generations of nurses, remaining grounded in the community that shaped her. As she steps into her next chapter, Karen is embracing retirement as an opportunity to grow in new ways. And while she has closed the book on her role at Beaufort Memorial, the spirit she brought to the organization %u2014 steady, compassionate, and community-minded %u2014will continue to inspire for years to come. BeaufortLifestyle.com | January 2026 19Karen, with her daughters Lauren (left) and Stephanie (right).