Karen Nelson Pursley

Karen Nelson Pursley, 70, of Raleigh, passed away peacefully at UNC Rex Hospital on March 8, 2026, after a brief illness following years of declining health. Born on May 17, 1955, in Kingsport, Tennessee, to Tolbert W. Nelson and Anne Stinnett Nelson, she spent most of her life in North Carolina.

Karen earned a B.S. in Nursing from UNC-Chapel Hill and later a B.A. in Business Management from NC State University. She began her career in Neonatal Intensive Care Units at Charlotte Memorial Hospital, Duke University Medical Center, and WakeMed in Raleigh. She later served as a nurse at the NC State University Infirmary and with several home healthcare agencies. In a rewarding career shift, she provided academic support for NC State athletic teams, working closely with athletes in basketball, tennis, baseball, swimming, and track—most extensively with men’s and women’s basketball. Those years brought her great joy and created lifelong friendships with athletes from around the world. A proud Carolina Tar Heel by education, she remained a devoted fan of Wolfpack athletics and attended basketball and football games for many years.

She is survived by her loving husband, Walter; her sister Sheila McJilton (Pat Hendrickson) of Laurel, Maryland; her brother Kyle Nelson (David Ralston, deceased) of Atlanta, Georgia; and her sister-in-law Angela Smail (Tom) of Annapolis, Maryland. She is also survived by nephews Woody McJilton of Salisbury, Maryland; Paul Smail (Maggie) of Baltimore; and Thomas Smail (Haelim) of Crofton, Maryland; as well as great-nephew Owen and great-niece Ella. Karen’s passing leaves a profound void in the lives of her family, many dear friends, mentees, and students. A private interment will be followed by a Celebration of Life later this spring.