- Date Of Birth: December 4, 1940
- Date Of Death: March 23, 2021
- State: Arizona
Karen passed away peacefully at home on March 23, 2021 after a short battle with colon cancer. Known for her beautiful smile and boundless energy, she had an uncanny ability to light up a room with her elegant demeanor which was always accentuated with fashionable St. John outfits. Her reputation for loyalty in the real estate world was something that truly separated her from many over the years.
Karen was born December 4, 1940 in Highland, IL to Otis and Eloise Weaver and grew up in the Champagne – Urbana area of Illinois. The youngest of 3 daughters, her sisters Linda Weaver and JoAnn Rudd cherished their younger sibling with her big dimples and blonde hair. She attended Urbana High School and went to college at Southern Illinois University – Carbondale where she met her former husband, Bob Burda who played professional baseball for 16 years. Karen traveled the country with Bob throughout his career playing for the St Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, Milwaukee Brewers, and Boston Red Sox. They had two daughters Cindy and Kim. They were her pride and joys and would take the girls to the various MLB ballparks and insisted on having them dress in the same fashionable outfits.
While in Scottsdale, AZ for the San Francisco Giants spring training, the Burda’s fell in love with the area and decided to make it their home in 1968. Karen’s interest in real estate was sparked while looking at homes for both her family to live in and being a quasi-tour guide to many baseball families who would also come to Scottsdale for spring training. So, in 1976, Karen decided to get her real estate license.
During her first year selling real estate, Karen had lunch with a man named Dale Rector, the Realty Executives founder.
Karen was also a big part of starting Luxury Home Tour where she served as a President, and then became both a chairman and Lifetime Board Member. She was also in charge of putting on the Annual Holiday Tours which were always thrown at a member’s high-end listing. These first-class tour events always included music, catered meals, and giveaways. Anyone who knew Karen, knew how much she loved Christmas time. It was right for her to be Chairman of the annual holiday get together. Her name was identified with Luxury Real Estate, and as such, many people would stop by her open houses just to “pick her brain” about the neighborhood and talk about real estate. She also was awarded by her peers as “Best agent to do a cross sale with” as she had the respect of many in the industry.
Karen is preceded in death by her parents Otis and Eloise Weaver and her sister Linda. She is survived by her daughters Cindy Phillips (Rob) and Kim Burda (Jeff) and her grandson Noah Phillips as well as “Miss Karen ” to Brenna and Griffin Hail. She is also survived by her sister Joann Rudd, Brother-in-law Dick Burda (Shari), as well as nieces, and nephews Carrie Rudd, Dan Rudd (Susan), Gayle (Bill) and extended family.
