Karen Margaret Barr

Karen Margaret Barr – Easley, S.C. Karen Margaret Barr decided to dance with the angels early Sunday morning, July 16, 2017.  Her mother and father, Margaret and Raymond Barr, were certain to be watching from the front row.  Those of us left behind will have to wait to watch the reruns when we too decide to take our bow. Born in Battle Creek, Michigan, Ms. Barr was, as she liked to put it, American by birth and southern by the grace of God.  Karen moved to Greenville in 1985 and loved calling the Upstate of South Carolina, “home”. Singing, dancing, and acting were her thing, topped only by a calling to care for people in need as a Registered Nurse. Karen started her professional career at the top…on Broadway. Broadway credits included The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas in the role of “Taddy Jo” as well as serving as the show’s Dance Captain, and The Taming of the Shrew in the female leading role of “Kate”.  She also performed in the national Broadway touring companies of Cabaret in the role of “Sally Bowles”, Macbeth in the role of “Lady Macbeth”, King Lear in the role of “Regan” and Dames at Sea in the role of “Joan”. Temporarily hanging up her dance shoes, Karen became an RN and began her nursing career in the late 1980’s.  Karen loved her work as a nurse.  She loved caring for people and having a hand in their healing.  Karen worked for the St. Francis Health System, the Greenville Hospital System, and Baptist Easley Hospital during her dedicated career. The calling of the theatre was too strong to completely give it up and Karen soon found herself back on stage, this time happily in community theatre.  That is where she found her “chosen family.”  Those strong bonds have lasted decades, through the moment of her death, today, and will continue going forward.  Karen always found herself surrounded by unbreakable friendships and deep affection. A majorette at the University of Michigan, a devotee of anything Star Trek, and a Disney animated movie groupie, Ms. Barr was a dynamo, a tour-de-force, and a source of never ending fun.  Karen Margaret Barr can best be described through the poem by Maryanne Radmacher that she had framed in her home.
“She danced.  She sang.  She took.  She gave.  She served.  She loved.  She created.  She dissented.  She enlivened.  She saw.  She grew.  She sweated.  She changed.  She learned.  She laughed.  She shed her skin, she bled on the pages of her days, she walked through walls, she lived with intention.” A light has gone out in our lives, but we only need to look up to see a brilliant new star in the evening sky to realize, she is always here, always with and around us, and still touching everyone she loved.  Fly free Ms. Barr with the light of God shining on your beautiful face.
A Life Celebration ceremony is planned in honor of Ms. Barr for Saturday, July 22, 2017 at 10:00am at the Unity Church of Greenville located at 207 E. Belvue Road, Taylors, SC. In lieu of flowers please send a donation in honor of Karen Margaret Barr to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation located at 82 Orchard Park Drive, Greenville, SC

29615. 864.234.5035.