Karen Joan Johnson, 70, a 24 year resident in Glen Burnie, died on April 5th, 2011 at the FutureCare Chesapeake Nursing Home.



Karen was born to Peter and Dorothy Ferguson in Newaygo, Michigan. She moved to the Muskegon, Michigan area where she went to school for cosmetology and eventually went on to own her own beauty salon.



Despite having an accident that limited her to a wheel chair, at the age of 40, she had the fortitude to go back to school and begin again by earning her degree in Electrical Engineering at Michigan State University. When most people would have given up she always had the strength to move ahead. Karen was able to place others first in her life and will be remembered for her directness and sense of humor.



She excepted a position with the National Security Agency in 1987 and relocated to Glen Burnie, Maryland where she retired from in 2003.



Karen is survived by her son, Scott Johnson, brother Terry Ferguson and sister-in-law Sue Ferguson. Karen will be remembered at a private reception by friends and family.