Photo: Karen Heim-Baugh leads a workshop on scouting during the 2009 National Gathering of UM Men.

EVANSVILLE, Ind.––Karen Heim-Baugh, 62, a long-time leader of United Methodist Scouting, died March 7. She had been moved to a Indiana University Hospital in Indianapolis to await a liver transplant but was too weak for the procedure.

“Karen was a dedicated scouter, mother, grandmother, and servant leader,” said Larry Coppock, director of scouting ministry for the denomination. “She was also a member of our Scouting Ministry Committee. We had conducted several workshops together at Philmont and the inaugural one at Sea Base in 2010.”

Karen also led a scouting workshop at the 2009 National Gathering of UM Men in Nashville, and she served as a contributing editor for Scouting Guidelines, part of a 2008 series of books helping church leaders understand their responsibilities in several areas of ministry. She was a recipient of many Scout awards, including the Silver Beaver Award, Silver Torch Award, Silver Cross Award, Cross and Flame Award, and God and Service Recognition.

Karen loved to teach classes at the Philmont Scout Ranch. Reporting of her fourth trip to the New Mexico ranch with her son Robb, she wrote, “Philmont was as gorgeous and as fun as I had remembered. The training session was filled with talented, enthusiastic adults who brought and shared many wonderful ideas. Campfires, cracker barrels, a western dance/ barbecue, crafts, a day off for hiking, touring and shopping and goofing off with new friends made the week memorable as well as educational.”

A graduate of Murray State University (BS, 1971 and M.S., 1974), Karen received a Doctor of Education degree from the University of Kentucky in 2003. She was a speech and hearing pathologist, retiring from Owensboro City Schools in February 2012.

Surviving are her son, Robb Baugh; a grandson, James Baugh, both of Evansville; and a sister, Janice (Louie) Pulliam, of Owensboro.