Mike Boettcher

Why are your hands tied? How are they tied? What ties them?

Why are your hands tied? How are they tied? What ties them?

The company that one Karen worked for was Kerr-McGee, named for its powerful leaders, Robert Kerr and Dean McGee.

The company that one Karen worked for was Kerr-McGee, named for its powerful leaders, Robert Kerr and Dean McGee.

She took the job at the nuclear plant because she needed a job, and the company was one of the biggest employers in the area. But also, Karen loved science.

She took the job at the nuclear plant because she needed a job, and the company was one of the biggest employers in the area. But also, Karen loved science.

And that was a guy? Yeah.

And that was a guy? Yeah.

Rosemary and Linda treated us to cookies and coffee, and we reminisced about their big sister. Karen was six years older than Rosemary and 13 years older than Linda. And boy, did Karen take to that role of big sister.

Rosemary and Linda treated us to cookies and coffee, and we reminisced about their big sister. Karen was six years older than Rosemary and 13 years older than Linda. And boy, did Karen take to that role of big sister.

How old were you?

How old were you?

And later in life, Karen raced cars and was pretty good at it, too, in her white Honda Civic.

And later in life, Karen raced cars and was pretty good at it, too, in her white Honda Civic.

Karen got a scholarship for college but dropped out, against her parents' wishes, to marry Bill Meadows, an oil pipeline worker and motorcycle lover that she'd met a year earlier.

Karen got a scholarship for college but dropped out, against her parents' wishes, to marry Bill Meadows, an oil pipeline worker and motorcycle lover that she'd met a year earlier.

But the two teenagers were headstrong and determined. It became a common law marriage.

But the two teenagers were headstrong and determined. It became a common law marriage.

Christy was the couple's first child. Two years after Christy, they had Michael. Then a year later, another daughter, Dawn. By the time Karen was 24, she had three babies to take care of. Like lots of people in oil country, the couple moved around a lot in those first few years, but landed in Duncan, Oklahoma.

Christy was the couple's first child. Two years after Christy, they had Michael. Then a year later, another daughter, Dawn. By the time Karen was 24, she had three babies to take care of. Like lots of people in oil country, the couple moved around a lot in those first few years, but landed in Duncan, Oklahoma.