Born and raised in Amarillo, Texas, KAREN S. GAMMAGE graduated from Amarillo High School in 1966 and pursued her pre- nursing studies at Amarillo Junior College while working full-time as a Nurse Technician. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Texas Christian University in May 1978.
Throughout her nursing career, Karen has held various roles, including Nurse Aide/Technician in Labor and Delivery, Floor Head Nurse, Nurse Supervisor, House Supervisor, Assistant Director of Nurses, and briefly as an Interim Director of Nurses. After relocating to New Mexico, she served as a Department Director overseeing three departments before transitioning to roles as Infection Control Nurse and Employee Health Nurse.
In 2000, Karen embarked on a new chapter as a travel nurse, holding licenses in five states and working in diverse locations, including St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, where she returned to Labor and Delivery. Following her mother’s illness, Karen moved back to Amarillo in 2002 to provide care, while also working part-time in home care.
It was during this period that Karen’s interest in writing was rekindled. Initially motivated by a desire to capture her nursing experiences, she began crafting stories and poems. Her foray into writing was further inspired by assisting a home care patient with typing and story development,
which encouraged her to pursue her own creative projects.
Karen’s debut book, Nutty and Buddy, is a heartfelt account of two baby squirrels rescued after a tree was cut down. Her dual talents as a writer and artist are showcased in this book, as she also illustrated the story.
Karen continues to explore writing and storytelling, drawing from her extensive background in nursing and personal experiences.
