She was born Oct. 16, 1924, in Hancock, MI, to the late Harold and Ruth Carlyon, and grew up in nearby L’Anse before moving to Grand Rapids. She is survived by her eight children: Kathy Drossart, Anne Henry (Tom), David Burnett (Carol), Doug Burnett (Sandy), Donna Burnett, Patricia Burnett, Daniel Burnett (Shelly) and Michael Burnett (Karin). She is also survived by 24 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren, all of whom adored her. Karen Burnett (nee Carlyon) was preceded in death by her husband, Donald G. Burnett; her sister, Esther; and her brother, Harry.
Karen earned a Bachelor’s degree in English from Kalamazoo College in the mid-1940s. It was there that she met Don when one of her friends decided at the last minute to forgo a planned date to a dance with him, and asked Karen to take her place. Karen and Don, who were married for 70 years before his passing in 2018, went on to attend regular reunions with their classmates for several decades.
Karen was a homemaker and looked after her eight children with great care. In her adult life, she lived in Southfield, MI, Rochester Hills, MI, The Villages, FL, and Columbus, GA. Karen had several passions, including writing poetry, shopping with her daughters, solving puzzles, listening to music and dancing, playing golf, watching baseball, and knitting. She loved to feed and watch wildlife wherever she lived. She enjoyed making children feel special and developed lifelong friendships with a wide range of people. She was regarded as a funny, charismatic, spritely, sharp, adventurous, patient and caring woman. Her kindness to both strangers and loved ones will be a large part of her enduring legacy.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, May 15, at Pixley Funeral Home, 322 University Drive in Rochester, MI. The family will begin receiving friends at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Birmingham, MI.
Memorial donations can be made to Salesian Missions.
