Karen Hayes, a native of south Texas, gravitated to baking as a child because ”cookies made people smile.” It was that recognition of simple cookie gifts that bring joy to the receiver that was also brought Karen joy. Hayes studied cookie decorations in any cookbook, magazine, and bake shop she could and saw no reason why she couldn’t teach herself.  Cookie decorating was art with icing and shapes and sprinkles. 

Baking and decorating cookies is a great pleasure for Karen, but it was not a career. Mrs. Hayes earned degrees in both Dental Hygiene and Allied Health Education and enjoyed 40 years in private practice and teaching dental hygiene at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. Karen retired with her husband, Bill, to Shell in 2016, and she continues to explore new decorating techniques, tools, and ideas via the internet.