Karen Foreman-LaMaster, 62 PA-C, passed away on August 29th after fighting cancer both  personally and professionally all her adult life. After learning that her 6th different cancer was terminal, she  change her focus from her  patients to herself. Thinking she only had months to live she  resigned from her passion as a Physician Assistant in cancer care  and went into high gear to live life to the fullest while taking tough chemotherapy. She surprised herself both with an unexpected  response to therapy and being able   accomplish so many life goals in the last 2.5 years… Quality Time with family and friends, travel about the world and best of all to help plan and  be at her daughter, Madison and Kyle’s wedding.  She was always grateful for these achievements, but always wanting to squeak out a little more. 

  Born at TMC in Tucson to the late Dr. Thomas and Teddy Foreman. She felt she had the ideal life growing up roaming the desert with her siblings and friends. She enjoyed, swimming, running and was Catalina HS feature Baton Twirler for all 4 years. Her under graduate work brought her to NAU with a degree in Health Services Administration. During her senior year she was diagnosed with her first cancer, Hodgkin’s Disease. She took treatment quickly  and got back to her studies to graduate on time….but with a change in career path. She wanted to be with the patients and not as an administrator. An amazing PA during her cancer  treatment spurred the desire to become a Physician Assistant….thus she was off to Duke University Physician Assistant  Program, where she returned, upon graduation,  to the place who gave her her own cancer treatment, as her first job as a clinical PA at the Arizona Cancer Center. She transition to Arizona Oncology  Associates  in 1996 and had a beautiful career impacting those patients she had so much in common with. 

  She was married 35 years to her love (and Texan), Rob LaMaster. She gave birth to her miracle baby, Madison LaMaster in 1993 and loved having time to be a classroom volunteer, Brownie/Girl Scout Troop leader, and proud Volleyball mom. She felt so lucky to have Rob and Maddie by her side through it all-  they doubled the pleasure/laughter and divided life’s burdens. She lived with her heart and saw God’s beauty impacting  her life everyday. 

  Survived by her husband, Rob LaMaster, daughter Madison Gunning (Kyle)  and also by her  siblings- Linda Foreman(Mel Dickstein), Mark Foreman(Marisol Parra), Nancy McClure(Doug McClure). Neices Morgan McClure(Eric Minkley), Erin McClure(Ben Sullivan), Paige Foreman and nephews Thomas Dickstein and Garrett Foreman. Donations to be directed to  Make a Wish of Southern Arizona or your favorite charity.  Special Thanks to Dr. Donald Brooks, Kerri Reeves, Carla Alling,  Marrae McWilliams, Kim Hollenbeck and the remaining AOA tribe!  “I have been richly blessed in this beautiful life!”

  Karen requested that memorial donations be made to Make-A-Wish Arizona www.arizona.wish.org, Tunnel to Towers Foundation www.t2t.org, your favorite animal rescue organization or favorite nonprofit.

  A Celebration of Life for Karen will be held on Friday, November 21st at 5:00PM at the Oro Valley Country Club, 300 W Greenock Drive, Oro Valley Arizona