Karen Miller Hartsoe

Hartsoe—Karen Miller Hartsoe, 68, on September 19, 2024, following a long battle with cancer, in Greensboro, N.C. Karen was born on October 13, 1955, to Charles and Colleen Hartsoe.

Karen earned a degree in political science in 1977 from Guilford College. She later earned a master’s degree in business administration at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Karen and Robert Grier married under the care of New Garden Meeting in Greensboro on April 28, 1990. Both Karen and Bob were musicians, she a violinist and he a trumpeter. She loved music and was an excellent player. Karen attended Governor’s School for violin while still in high school, later playing with Greensboro College faculty in a string quartet and then with the Greensboro Philharmonic.

Karen’s career was training leaders in the business world. She taught an enlightened training program for upper management in which everybody had an equal voice and workers were respected. Following the training, she assisted management to implement the program. Karen spent many years working for Guilford Technical Community College. She also worked at Randolph College in Lynchburg, Va., teaching English to incarcerated people.

Born with a congenital heart problem, in 2013 Karen had a heart transplant. That transplant failed, so a week later, a second heart was found and transplanted by Wake Forest Baptist Hospital. The doctors told her that out of all patients who have heart transplants, only 1 percent will have a second transplant, and out of those only 1 percent will survive. Karen was a survivor.

She was active in New Garden Meeting as a choir member and longtime attender. An avid reader, she joined the Park Book Club and participated in lively discussions about whatever the group was reading. She had strong opinions, but was always open to hearing others’ ideas. Karen had a keen mind and curiosity about a multitude of topics including music, culture, food, politics, and relationships, which made her a wonderful conversationalist. That, and her delightful ability to listen and ask pertinent questions gave her friends and acquaintances a chance to be heard and feel cared for.

Karen cherished the life she spent with her loving husband of 34 years. In her free time she enjoyed long walks, music, art, and travel, creating lasting memories with those who surrounded her. She was a bright light with an inquisitive mind and a generous soul.

Karen is survived by her husband, Robert Grier; and her brother, Charles Hartsoe.