In honor & memory of Karen Mohler, who, in 2006, along with her husband Dave, established and funded a ministry to encourage and celebrate the men and women of Calvert County’s law enforcement community. Through the years, their steadfast commitment laid the foundation for what has today become Honor the Blue.

“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least
of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ – Matthew 25:40

Karen Thomas Mohler. To know her was transforming. To interact with her was to recognize that you mattered. To be served by her was to experience the presence of Jesus with skin on.

After enduring a brief battle with metastatic melanoma, Karen peacefully stepped from this life into the arms of Jesus her Lord and Savior, Sunday evening, March 21, 2021, while resting gently in the arms of her husband David, with her boys, daughters-in-law and grandchildren at her side.

Karen Thomas was born on November 1, 1955, at Calvert County Hospital, the first of five daughters born to Lester and Dona Rae Thomas of Prince Frederick, MD. After spending their early years in Dares Beach, the Thomas family moved into their newly built home in Prince Frederick. Growing up, Karen attended Prince Frederick Elementary School, Calvert Junior High, and graduated class valedictorian from Calvert Senior High School. Blessed with a full scholarship, Karen entered the Union Memorial School of Nursing, then associated with John’s Hopkins University, where she again excelled with highest honors, eventually scoring in the upper 5% nationally when completing her nursing board examinations.

High school sweethearts, Karen and David shared their first date on October 7, 1970, and were married on August 17, 1974 while David was serving in the U.S. Navy stationed in Key West, Florida. They often liked to share with friends that their first year of marriage was a yearlong honeymoon in Key West.

After David’s final military assignment was concluded, Dave and Karen moved to Springfield, Missouri where Karen, now a registered nurse, served at the Lester E. Cox Regional Hospital and David pursued formal preparation to serve as a pastor, counselor and chaplain. Karen and Dave spent a total of seven years in Springfield, and were honored to serve on the pastoral staff of Tampa Assembly of God where they were blessed with many enduring friendships, including those who are now serving in churches, on military bases, and upon foreign fields around the world.

Karen actively served as a registered nurse for nearly forty years, spending the majority of her time in obstetrics as a labor and delivery nurse. As a certified obstetrics nurse, Karen established the bereavement program within the Calvert Health System obstetrics unit and served as its first coordinator. Through the years she walked along side many couples who suffered the loss of a child, offering her love and friendship, and would follow up with years of caring. She was a genuine friend and caregiver at heart to many.

Karen cherished being a wife, mother and grandmother. Over the years God blessed Dave and Karen with a daughter, Karie, who was born with birth defects and later died from those complications, and three sons: Kevin (Leo), Andrew (Jen), and Timothy (Kaity). God also smiled upon them and blessed them with four beautiful grandchildren: Denali, Abby, Drew, and Olivia. Being with her family was one of the greatest joys of Karen’s life.

Karen enjoyed serving, encouraging, and simply spending time with others. She was an excellent organizer and communicator who enjoyed mentoring, teaching and leading various women’s groups. Karen also liked to sew, cook, run, exercise, and write. She was asked by the editors of the periodicals Christianity Today and Leadership Journal to contribute articles on the subjects of caring for those who are mourning, including how pastors, churches and caregivers can help grieving parents. She was also asked to help write a daily devotional for teens. Her published articles and devotionals touched the lives of many.

A devoted wife, Karen relished serving with David within each of the seven churches to which God called them, including two churches that they helped establish. She and David were a team from day one, serving side by side, loving one another, and always hoping their marriage modeled the life changing power of Christ to those around them.

Now enjoying eternity with the Lover of her soul, although Karen may no longer be with us physically, may her legacy of loving God and loving others live through each of us.