Karol Burford

Karol Winifred Burford passed peacefully into the arms of her Savior, surrounded by family, on February 28th, 2023, following a brief illness. She was 85 years old. Karol was born December 8th, 1937, in Oakland, California, to James Kendrick and Winnefred (Nelson) Kendrick. She lived in the bay area until 8th grade, when her father accepted the position of Chief of Police in Porterville, California. Karol graduated from Porterville Union High School in 1955 and from Porterville Community College in 1957. She was an accomplished equestrian, riding her beautiful horse, Star, on a precision riding team called the Canterbells. She was an equally accomplished actress in high school and later in community dinner theater, including playing Elma Duckworth in a production of “Bus Stop.”

On her father’s side, Karol’s family has been traced back to five direct Mayflower ancestors, gaining her membership in the Mayflower Society as well as the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was equally proud of her mother’s family of Swedish immigrants and, to this day, has cousins in Sweden.

Karol married her one true love, Jerry Burford, on September 29th, 1962, in Oakland, California. Karol and Jerry had two children, Mary (Burford) Evensen and (Gerald) Mark Burford. In 1972 her husband entered the FBI, a career that led the family to Denver, Colorado, in 1973. Karol would spend the rest of her life in Colorado as a devoted wife and mother, and eventually grandmother. She was an active volunteer in her children’s schools, was a Girl Scout troop leader, and was a Boy Scout den mother. She loved attending her children’s school and sports events. After her children entered high school, she began working in the records department at Lakewood Police Department, where she worked for 30 years. During their 54 years of marriage, Karol and Jerry loved to ski, hike, and travel domestically and abroad. They eventually had a winter home in Palm Springs, California, where they enjoyed warm winters of golfing and a very active retired life. Karol and Jerry moved to Wind Crest in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, in 2014. Karol had many wonderful friends and was active in the Wind Crest Catholic community.

Karol was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Jerry, as well as an infant daughter, Susan. She is survived by her children, Mary (Dave) Evensen and Mark (Laura) Burford, and her ten cherished grandchildren: Molly, Josh, Kaitlyn, and Johnathan Evensen, Luke (Jesse), Jack, Madeleine, James, Annamarie, and Frank Burford.

In honor of Karol’s deep love of animals, a donation to the animal charity or rescue of your choice in lieu of flowers would be a wonderful tribute.