Karen Marie Walker

Karen was born on May 29, 1968, to Jenny and James Walker, in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Karen was an excellent student at Cocoa Beach High School, she went to two state championships on the basketball team, and she traveled the world with the chorus and her sister, Sara.

Karen attended Florida State University, where she enjoyed friendships and freedom, while studying risk management in Florida's first insurance based curriculum.

She went to law school at Cumberland School of Law, where she continued to excel in her studies, and in new friendships that thrive through today.

Karen practiced law in Birmingham for several years, trying cases in the field of insurance defense. Her clients loved her for her common sense, hard work, sincerity, and results.

Karen's life radiated with joy upon the birth of her daughter, Hannah Marie Walker, in 1999. Karen and Hannah moved to Florida to set up a new life closer to home, to the benefit of her family, now extended from Cocoa Beach to Orlando.

Karen settled in Orlando, healthy and independent. She practiced at a downtown law firm, and in 2006, with some help from a mutual friend and God's good grace, she came into the life of Andrew Rock. Andy, like Karen, was a family person, the father of three boys. Karen and Hannah put up with the new guys, and in 2007, Karen and Andy were married. The next year, they added Andrew James Rock to their family. Now complete, the family thrived. Combining traditions, supporting one another, consolidating into a single home, and powering past a few bumps in the road, the family made memories and plans.

Karen was always fearless. She organized trips to England, Spain, Italy, Austria, and Croatia. We saw the world in the eyes of one another, from the cliffs in the city harbor to candlelit dinners in hidden cafés.

In 2008, Karen saw that Andy's law firm was struggling. She traded her partnership at an established firm for the unknown, and became Andy's partner at Rock Law Group. With Karen, success was a lock. Her clients followed her and her new clients loved her.

Karen always put family first. She also made time for friends and her community. Although she loved to travel abroad, her favorite spot was nearby, on the back porch of her place in New Smyrna Beach. Wine, song, and the magic combination of coming together with one another was the norm. She could see through the nonsense, tell you the truth about anything, and put you on the floor with laughter. She had a rebellious heart, and never stopped trying to help us all.

Karen's final challenge was a rare form of brain cancer, incurable, hopeless, and debilitating. Yet she had no self-pity, nor did she step back in the least. She met every ugly wall with a path around, over, or through it. She gave us the gift of her ever present humor, which raced past distractions to reveal beautiful realities.

Karen was preceded by her father, Jim. She is and forever will be in the hearts of her husband, Andy, her children, Hannah and AJ, and her stepsons, Joe, Sam, and Hank. With us in our challenge are Karen's mother, Jenny, Karen's sisters, Sandy and Sara, and her brothers, Tom and Jimmy.

Services will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Orlando, 1:00 pm Thursday January 12, 2023.

The family is grateful for the love and care of one, another, our coworkers, and the community as a whole.