Karyn Callaway Obituary

Karyn Lynn Callaway, 67, of Sweet Home, Oregon, passed away on May 21, 2025, at the Denver Hospice, after suffering a brain hemorrhage in the Denver Airport on May 6, to the immeasurable sadness of all those who knew and loved her.

Karyn was born on July 2, 1957, to Bill and Doris Pearce in Durango, Colorado. She was the second oldest of seven children. She had a happy childhood and maintained a close relationship with her family throughout her life.

After graduating from Durango High School in 1975, she married Phillip Callaway, with whom she would spend the next 50 years of her life. They lived in married student housing at Colorado State University in Fort Collins while Phil was working towards a degree. Their two sons were born in Fort Collins, Daniel in 1975 and Jesse in 1976.

In 1979 the family moved to Oregon, where Karyn embraced the tall trees and running waters of her new home state. Somehow, while juggling the responsibility of raising two rambunctious boys, Karyn earned her Registered Nurse degree from Umpqua Community College, and she devoted the rest of her professional life to the field of health care. There could not have been a more natural fit, as Karyn's nature was one of empathy, patience, and kindness.

She worked first as a floor nurse at Lower Umpqua Hospital in Reedsport. She then earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration from Oregon State University while working full-time as a floor nurse on the night shift at Samaritan Albany General Hospital. After graduation, she became the assistant ICU manager at the hospital in Corvallis, followed by a stint as an occupational health nurse at Hewlett Packard, and finally again as an ICU nurse at the hospital in Albany. Karyn worked through the early part of the pandemic and then retired in mid-2021. During her 30+ years as an ICU nurse, she was often told by patients that she was their favorite nurse.

Karyn loved to experience the outdoors and went on many adventures with Phil, exploring the nooks and crannies all over Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. She loved camping, hiking, rafting, and climbing mountains, and she even jumped out of a plane once. She really enjoyed the camaraderie with the women of the Great Old Broads for Wilderness. She valued the ongoing friendships of nurses she had previously worked with. She loved spending time with her mother, Doris, and other family members in Durango, going back twice a year. She was on her way to Durango for Mother's Day when tragedy struck in the Denver airport.

In 2010 Karyn rejoiced at the birth of a grandson, Elliot, followed by more rejoicing at the birth of a granddaughter, Amelia, in 2011. She was as hands-on as a grandmother could be, and she never tired of any activity they wanted to engage in or any conversation they wanted to have. They brought much joy into her life.

Karyn will be remembered by all those who knew her for her kind and gentle spirit. She was a great listener, the kind that doesn't always feel the need to share their opinion or remind you that "things could be worse." She would just listen and make a person feel heard, and that is a rare gift. She will be remembered for her unwavering love for everyone in her family. She will be remembered for her devotion to the health of this planet and her love for its many natural wonders.

Karyn was preceded in death by her father, Bill; her son, Daniel; and her nephew, Dillon. She is survived by her husband, Phil, with whom she would have celebrated her 50th anniversary this June 14. She is survived by her son Jesse, daughter-in-law Katie, and grandchildren, Elliot and Amelia. She is survived by her mother, Doris; her sisters, Debbie (Bob) Egger, Janice (Mike) Lewis, and Lorrie (Dave) Leeds; her brothers, Gary (Lisa) Pearce, Brian Pearce, and Greg (Brandy) Pearce; several aunts and uncles; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held on a future date at the family's cabin near Durango, Colorado. "We were together. I forget the rest." - Walt Whitman