Karen Colclough of Wilson, Wyoming, formerly of Lynnfield, died while on a church mission trip in Nicaragua on April 12, 2014. She was 37 years of age.

Raised in Lynnfield, she was the daughter of Douglas E. Colclough, and Janet (Russell) Colclough, and the sister of Michael Colclough. She was an honors graduate of Lynnfield High School, and an honors graduate of the University of New Hampshire. While at UNH, she earned degrees in Environmental Conservation and Outdoor Education. Karen was always ready to help people. While in college, she spent her school breaks with Alternative Break Challenge, volunteering in the inner cities.

Before moving to the Jackson, Wyoming area 11 years ago, Karen worked for River Odysseys West where she guided tours in the Upper Missouri River in Montana. She loved to teach in the outdoor setting. Karen attended the Teton Science School and became a teacher of adaptive skiing for disabled people, as well as serving as a member of the Ski Patrol at Snow King Mountain in Jackson, Wyoming.

Karen was a compassionate and caring person. Until last summer, she served with Community Entry Services, a state program to assist people with special needs. Most recently Karen had become involved with the Wolf Team Research Program, where she located, tracked and tagged wolves in the wild.

Karen was an active member of the Presbyterian Church of Jackson Hole in Wyoming where she served as a Deacon. When she was living in Lynnfield, she had also been active in the youth groups at the Centre Congregational Church in Lynnfield. She had been on a church mission trip to Guatemala three years ago, and she was on a church mission trip in Nicaragua when she died.

A funeral service will be held at the First Congregational Church, 25 Woburn St., Reading on Friday, April 25 at 11:00 am. Visiting hours will be at the Douglass, Edgerley & Bessom Funeral Home, 25 Sanborn St. (Cor. of Woburn St.) in Reading on Thursday evening from 4-8 pm. Burial will be at the Forest Hills Cemetery in Lynnfield. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Karen Colclough Fund, P.O. Box 26, Lynnfield, MA 01940.