Karen Kirk Tate

Our beautiful, sweet mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend Karen Kirk Tate passed away surrounded by her loving family on May 27, 2025. She was 86.

Born July 7, 1938, to Darrell (Grant) Kirk and Geraldine (Geri) Staples Kirk in Tooele, Utah, Karen was the oldest of four children. Karen was raised to know the value of hard work, as a young girl she spent time and enjoyed much of her youth at her grandparents' property climbing trees to pick the fruit and eating enough to cause frequent bellyaches. Stomping on hay and working in the garden were fondly remembered pastimes. This love of hard work, sense of adventure and play remained with her for the rest of her life.

Karen attended Tooele High School and developed friendships that have lasted through the years. The most special of these relationships was that of meeting a young man named Terry who once proudly declared that Karen was the only one, that he couldn't outrace in a track event. After teasing her by placing his muddy boots in her locker again and again, their first date was the County Fair where they talked well into the night and never wanted to be apart again. Karen had high scores in school and was an active competitive swimmer, receiving many trophies and accolades for her many successes at events.

Karen and Terry Tate were married on June 22, 1954, and later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple. Enjoying life to the fullest together, just shy of 69 wonderful years. As a young couple starting out, Karen was a busy new mom during the day and worked evenings to help make ends meet. 

In addition to being busy as a mom with multiple church callings, Karen was the perfect partner in marriage. She worked side by side with her husband Terry, in their plumbing business working tirelessly to make Tate's Plumbing the prosperous and successful business that it became. 

As the family grew, with six children within eight years, Karen's work ethic also made family time a priority by working hard to provide plenty of outdoor family adventures. Venturing often into the mountains, driving down dirt roads, camping, hiking, exploring, and snowmobiling during the cold winter months and enjoying the vast variety of lakes and reservoirs during the summers to cool down and enjoy time together. Both Terry and Karen worked hard and played even harder, together. Each of them enjoying life's adventures, along with the ups and downs, always together. 

A day never went by without seeing Karen serving her family, neighbors and friends with food, visits, or just a listening ear. She believed that her life was tied to family, and that what matters most in life is how we lived and loved. 

Karen was a wonderful example of being a loving wife, caring mother, and faithful friend. At her core, the attributes of love, faith, and service were evident every day of her life.

Karen is survived by her children DeeAnn Hinajosa, David (Tina) Tate, Jill (Bob) Burt, Michael (Sherrie Lou) Tate, Mark (Suzanne) Tate, many grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.Sisters Elaine Winegar, Kathy (Steve) Pulley and brother Darrell Kirk.

Preceding Karen in death was the love of her life, Terry Neal Tate, and son James William Tate and Grandson Chase Tate.

A heartfelt thanks to special friends Dorothy & Vern Jones whose love, support and friendship meant the world to mom and all of us.

Thanks also to her Country Springs friends and neighbors, and the Stone Creek Ward. 

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, May 31, 2025 at the Stone Creek Ward House, 1476 North 300 West, Bountiful, Utah where a viewing will be held from 1:30-2:15 p.m. prior to services. Interment - Lakeview Cemetery.