Karen Bottomley

Obituary Karen Gerhardt Bottomley age 82, died early Tuesday morning, May 29th, 2018 at Galloway Ridge in Pittsboro, North Carolina. Karen was born Virginia Karen Gerhardt January 4, 1936 at her parents home on Melrose Street in Chicago, Illinois. However, she was baptized as Karen Virginia Gerhardt on May 26, 1936 in the Evangelical Lutheran Church. In 1941 her family moved to Edgebrook where she attended Edgebrook Elementary School from kindergarten until 8th grade and then attended Taft High School, graduating in June of 1953. She then attended the University of Illinois graduating with a B.S. degree in Physical Education in June of 1957. While attending University of Illinois she met the love of her life, husband of almost 50 years, Charles G. Bottomley. They were married September 7, 1957 in Edgebrook Evangelical Lutheran Church (where her parents and grandparents were charter members). For their honeymoon they traveled to Ithaca, New York where Chuck started graduate school at Cornell University. This was the first of many moves since Chuck started his career with the DuPont Company after graduate school in Wilmington, DE. During his 30 year career they moved to Waynesboro, VA back to Wilmington, DE to Martinsville, VA, then onto Camden, SC and finally Hockessin, DE. During this time while raising 4 children, Karen had many hobbies including crocheting, knitting, weaving and painting. She was an avid reader, favoring the romantic novels as they always had a happy ending. In 1991, Chuck retired from DuPont and they moved to the Crystal Coast of North Carolina in Morehead City, with a place on the beach in Pine Knoll Shores, their favorite vacation spot. After Chuck died in March of 2007, Karen moved to Galloway Ridge, a retirement community, but kept their beach condo and spent summers there up until the fall of 2016. Even though she battled Rheumatoid arthritis for many years, she always had a positive attitude towards life. She had this quote sitting by her computer: "Im not happy, Im cheerful. Theres a difference. A happy woman has no cares at all. A cheerful woman has cares but has learned how to deal with them." Beverly Sills She is preceded in death by her husband, Charles Bottomley and her parents, Edward and Florence Gerhardt. Survivors include daughter Dr. Janet Mitchell of Hockessin, DE; sons Dr. Greg Bottomley of Cary, NC, David Bottomley of Kokomo IN, Edward Bottomley III of Tyler, TX; sister Nancy Ericson of Downers Grove, IL; seven grandchildren and one great grandchild. Her funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 2, 2018 at St. James United Methodist Church in Newport, NC with the pastor, the Rev. Thomas Supplee, officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Newport, NC. The family will receive friends at Brooks Funeral Home in Morehead City Friday, June 1st from 7pm 8:30pm. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make donations to either St James United Methodist Church in support of the Community Life Center P.O. Box 250, Newport, NC 28570 or the American Cancer Society, 930-B Wellness Drive, Greenville, NC 27834. Visitation 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM ,Friday, June 1, 2018 Brooks Funeral Home 201 Professional Circle Morehead City, NC 28557 Funeral Service 11:00 AM ,Saturday, June 2, 2018 St. James United Methodist Church 1011 Orange Street Newport, NC 28570 Services You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or by planting a memorial tree in the memory of Karen Bottomley