Karen Lynn Kirk

Karen Lynn Kirk - Her Story of a Life Lived Well
December 18, 1946 - May 12, 2023

Karen Lynn Kirk (née Weilman) found the joie de vivre in everything. Whether she was traveling the globe or spending time at home in Burleson, Texas, Karen moved through the world with kindness, curiosity, and a keen sense of humor. Karen’s sincere character endeared her to us and we are grateful for how she enriched our lives with her love and gentle laughter.

Born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, she embodied the vibrant and fun-loving spirit of her Acadian roots, and after being raised throughout Texas, resiliency and friendliness became a part of her DNA. In the summers, she would return to the bayou to spend time with her ‘sister-cousins’ in Houma, Louisiana, and these formative years shaped her into a woman who cherished making memories with family. True to her birthplace, she was like a mild hot sauce in some ways; always adding kick to the conversation, but not enough to make you sweat, unless a dash of sarcasm was well deserved. (Growing up, this special seasoning was often reserved for her older brother, Reggie.)

After high school, Karen married her boyfriend, Ralph, and became a devoted mother to her daughter, Paige, and son, Todd. She was involved in their after-school activities by coaching Todd’s soccer team and being the leader of Paige’s Girl Scout troop. To beat the heat, they spent their summers swimming, either at the country club pool or in the beaches of Galveston.

After their 20-year marriage came to an end, Karen started a new chapter in her life. She took a part-time job bookkeeping at a travel agency, where her affinity for adventure would begin to flourish. Her first big trip was to Banff, Alberta, with her lifelong friend, Vin, who worked at the agency too. Banff would forever after hold a special place in her heart, as she found solace and a new sense of self in the mountains, lakes, and endless wilderness.

With a deep interest in family genealogy, Karen was able to trace her ancestry to Acadians in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. And on a return visit to Banff with Paige, she helped to connect branches of her immediate family tree back to Canada. Paige met and married a Banff local, Tony, and they had Karen’s first grandchildren, Corrie and Bailey. When the girls were old enough to talk, she became known as ‘Mada’ after a toddler translation mishap. But she liked the French twist on ‘grandma’ and so in time, seven grandchildren would come to know her as their one and only, sweet and ever-loving, Mada.

Eventually Karen switched careers and began working as a prominent forensic accountant’s assistant in Fort Worth. She would be Bob Cocanower’s right-hand for the next 25 years. During this time of settling into her new work, she met Craig, who would become her husband, life partner, and travel companion for the next 31 years. They created a quiet life out on some land in Burleson, where they fostered, adopted, and raised Labradors from DFW Lab Rescue, kept track of actual wild animals inhabiting their acreage, and found respite from the hustle and bustle.

From Port Aransas, Texas, to Russia, Karen and Craig covered a lot of ground by air, land, and sea. Whether it was weaving through Copper Canyon, Mexico, or roaming through Colorado and New Mexico, or just taking in the slow mornings of Portugal and Spain with her sister-cousin Milchen and her cousin’s husband, Carlos, they soaked in both the wild and mild moments of exploring. They also enjoyed capturing the landscapes with their shared passion of photography and so they brought their camera gear with them everywhere: on Trans-Atlantic cruises and to countries like Canada, England, and Germany.

There was another flight that Karen always ensured she kept on the calendar: to Raleigh, North Carolina, to spend time with Todd, her daughter-in-law Angie, and her three grandsons: George, Jackson, and Cooper. When she was in town, they stayed busy with Frisbee golfing, decorating for Halloween parties, going to the beach, and watching the boys compete in soccer, track, and band. She also found it fun to transport back to medieval times by going to Scarborough Faire as a Mother’s Day tradition with Paige and the girls, as well as with Paige’s youngest children, Maisie and Brenner. With of course, a cookout back at the ranch in Ennis after, with her son-in-law Tim at the BBQ helm.

As you can see, she found happiness in big and small ways, every day. She was fond of weekends spent combing the Canton flea markets with Paige, hitting the slot machines with Vin, and going on road trips with her sister-cousin Sue. (Of course she adored the whole sister-cousin crew, who also includes: Alexis, Susie, Elisabeth, Hazel, Bubba, and Heidi.)

She collected cookbooks and trinkets: gnomes, pigs, and turtles were her tchotchkes of choice. She was a faithful watcher of the Olympics and she participated in the annual Colonial Country Club golf tournament with her dad, Reginald, and then later with Craig too. She liked to try new ingredients and spices while cooking and baking - her pumpkin loaf was a family favorite at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and any time you asked nicely (which Bailey’s husband Hunter did often). And more than anything, she loved cracking open a Coca Cola to have over ice.

Karen received her cancer diagnosis in late 2018 and after her surgery; she put her all into fighting it off, for good. While her weeks were filled with medical appointments, scans, and tests in the city, she still found time to live her life on her own terms by traveling to the beach, the bayou, and to visit her grandsons. Eventually, the cancer came back in 2021. This was during a time when her children needed her most though and so we look back on her last couple of years as her persevering to support them through their pain and heartbreak, as only a mother can.

May 12, 2023 was a humid, windless day in Burleson. We surrounded her with an outpouring of love and gratitude for everything she gave us as we said goodbye to our wife, mom, Mada, sister, and dear friend. After she passed, a small magic happened - a breeze rippled through the magnolia trees and flower bushes. We take this as a sign she was greeted by loved ones on the other side, namely her mother Marie, who lost her battle to cancer when Karen was 18 years old. Karen missed Marie her whole life and we find comfort in knowing they’ve been reunited.

We wish to especially thank the professional, patient, and empathic staff at Community Healthcare of Texas House at Huguley. We are so grateful to them for the respectful and tender care they showed her while she was in their charge. So in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to them
in Karen’s memory (https://www.chot.org/giving/ ). As mentioned before, she had a soft spot for rescue labs and a gift to DFW Lab Rescue ( https://www.dfwlabrescue.org/donate/ ) would also make her very happy.

Finally, Karen believed in something we called ‘yaya.’ Family vernacular is often hard to describe, but essentially it’s a cast of positive energy. We would focus on sending it to each other when someone needed a boost of good luck or goodwill. So know that the next time you need it, she will guide yaya your way, always.