Karen Gay Barry's Obituary
Born in Norman, Oklahoma on November 30, 1949, Karen Gay (Christie) Barry met Jesus face-to-face on January 3, 2025, after a courageous four-year battle with cancer.
A graduate of Atoka High School, Karen lived in Atoka until 2008, when she moved to Broken Arrow. She married Johnnie Burden in 1968, and together they had three sons. Karen worked as an administrative assistant for several years and served as an independent beauty consultant for Mary Kay Cosmetics.
Her true passion and calling were to encourage and minister to women. She served in Aglow International Ministries for over 30 years. After her time with Aglow, Karen continued to minister to countless women through one-on-one mentoring. In 2018, she began serving with a Believers Church ministry called “No Place Left,” where every Sunday afternoon she went door-to-door in apartment complexes, sharing love, prayer, and the gospel. She said, “I did that until my health kept me from continuing. I loved visiting and meeting with people, and many were added to the Kingdom.”
Karen cherished her church family at Believers Church, where she spent many years serving, ministering, and worshipping with her brothers and sisters in Christ.
Following her cancer diagnosis in 2020, God graciously gave her several more years to serve, travel, and spend time with family and friends. During that time, she traveled to various parts of the world, including a trip to Europe and an Alaskan cruise. Karen was also an avid reader, reading dozens of books every year.
Karen was preceded in death by her husband, Johnnie Burden; her parents, Robert and Judy Christie; her brother, Allen Christie; and her precious granddaughter, Lillian (Lilly) Margaret Burden.
Karen loved her family and is survived by her children, John Burden and wife Candy of New Waverly, TX; Chad Burden and wife Kristy of Winter Garden, FL; and Wade Burden of Los Angeles, CA. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Racey Burden of New Waverly, TX; Rylie Almond and husband Clay of Fort Worth, TX; Ridge Burden of Decatur, TX; and Ella Burden, Caleb Burden, Andrew Burden and Eva Burden of Winter Garden, FL. Her first great-grand baby is due in May of 2025.
She left this message for her family to read: “I love all of you so very much. I’ve spent much time in prayer for each of you. You all mean so much to me.”
A funeral service to honor and celebrate the life of Karen will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, January 10, 2025, at Believers Church, located at, 4705 S Memorial Dr, Tulsa, OK 74145.
Those wishing to send flowers for the service may do so by calling Floral Designs by Floral Haven at (918) 459-1525. Independent florists may deliver flowers directly to Floral Haven Funeral Home by 5:00 PM on Thursday, January 9, 2025, in order for them to be set out and properly displayed at the church for Karen's funeral service on Friday.
Karen will be laid to rest in a private family graveside service at Floral Haven Memorial Gardens, where she will be lovingly remembered by those closest to her. The pallbearers to assist with taking Karen to her final resting place include: John Burden, Chad Burden, Wade Burden, Ridge Burden, Caleb Burden, Andrew Burden, Clay Almond.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Floral Haven Funeral Home.
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