Karen Conners Leopold

August 20, 1954 ~ February 13, 2001
Resided in:
Arden, NC
A native of Buffalo, NY, she is a daughter of David Francis Leopold of Burlington, VT and the late Rita Conners Leopold. Karen was a real estate associate with Habitat Realty in Hendersonville, NC and a volunteer at Memorial Mission Hospital in Asheville. She was the previous owner of Turtles Restaurant in Anna Maria Island, FL, and was involved in numerous community and fund raising events including the Community Center of Anna Maria, FL, Habitat for Humanity, and a volunteer firefighter for Anna Maria Island, FL firefighters.
In addition to her father, Karen is survived by Martin J. Kimball and a sister, Katharine Leopold of Arden.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, February 17 in the chapel of Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian on Long Shoals Road with Reverend Don Welborn officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Anna Maria Community Center, P.O. Box 253, Anna Maria, FL 34216.
hearts go out to everyone love pearlie
She was a great friend to everyone she knew.
Marty,
Although I didn’t know Karen very well, I enjoyed her very much. I know she will be missed….Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers.
I met Karen just before my mother’s death. She helped me cope with that loss by relating to the same devestation She had gone through just a few years before. She was truly an inspiration to keep moving on, when I was lost. We met in 1983/1984 and shortly began working together at Vivian Price Real Estate, a company and property that she turned into , the infamous, TURTLES.
WHAT A GRAND IDEA! She helped the Island stay ALIVE without a hint that she was the map behind the treasure.
Nights of wonderful dinners, champange, great music, poker games (no men allowed except for ‘Martina’) are only a few of the great memories. There are so many things I will cherish and miss about our friendship. I will forever think of Karen for her courage, contributions and, most of all WITH LOVE.
Karen…somehow I know you will teach those ANGEL’S something that they haven’t thought about yet. PEACE BE WITH YOU ON YOUR NEW JOURNEY. Love forever, Lisa
Deepest sympathies to Marty and the Family. I will miss Karen greatly and will always remember the good times.
We are so very sorry to hear of Karen’s passing. Our deepest sympathy to all. She was a great lady. We have many fond memories of many good times with Karen.
The Evans Family
I was in Turtles last night for dinner. Although it is now Giorgio’s and looks a bit different I could not help but feel Karen’s prescence. As I sat at the bar eating my dinner I remembered that the night before we opened Turtles we slept on the floor because we were too exhausted and too excited to go home. At the same time I had to thank Karen, for through Turtles I have had countless good times and been fortunate to have many wonderful relationships that I would not otherwise have here on the island. Marty you are never alone. You are in my heart and prayers. Love to all. Herbo
P.S. Karen say hello to Lou…
I’m not too good at this kind of thing. I imagine no one is. I don’t know if I signed the guestbook or just started writing while I could. So I had to try again. Karen we will miss you. Marty hang tough. Love, Herb
Karen was a good person and a good friend with whom i associated as a news reporter on Anna Maria Island and a real estate reporter for the Bradenton Herald. I am sorry to hear of her passing and offer my deepest condolences to her survivors.
Our heartfelt sympathy to Marty and family.
Karen left us with some great memories. She now shares a place with some good friends we’ve lost over the years. I’m sure they were waiting for her. God speed.
Sincerely, Maureen
Deepest Sympathies love Jon & Nicole
Hi Marty, So shocked to hear about Karen, so shocking. Please know your in my thoughts and will think about you two whenever I go to BINGO. Margaret
FAMILY OF KAREN AND MARTY, YOU ARE IN OUR IN HEARTS AND IN OUR PRAYERS.WE LOVE HER VERY MUCH.SHE IS A VERY SPECIAL PERSON THAT WE’LL NEVER FORGET.
I can’t begin to list all the wonderful and fun times inc. working at turtle’s, poker(when i mistakedly put cayenne
pepper on the deviled eggs instead of paprika and you ate
them first),bar wars,the colony,having my own room when
you visited,and moving you to n.c.
You and Marty are mom and dad
to me. God bless you in heaven
I will love you both always.
Love, Edie
Like everyone else who ever
met Karen, I also was drawn
to her by her easy going
spirit, enthusiasm and wonder-
ful charm. I was very privi-
ledged to call her a friend.
Karen had a great knack for
making everyone feel special.
I will never forget our morn-
ings drinking coffee at Turtles and watching Green
Acres and I Love Lucy. I have
so very many wonderful memories of times spent with
Karen and Marty. I will
treasure the time spent the
last time they were on the
island and our luncheon. I
have an empty space now in my
heart and I miss my friend.
Marty, my thoughts and prayers
are with you always – I am
always here for you. There is
no doubt that Karen has had
a profound effect on everyone
who has known her and we are
truly blessed and enriched for
the experience. God bless you
both always.
Love,
Diane Beer, Jim Green, Nicole
(Beer)Clark and Francene Johnson.
Karen was a great friend though I have lost touch. My heart felt sympathys.
kate i was so sorry to hear about karen.she had been in my thoughts recently now that my husband and i are going to be spending time on longboat key.we had spent some time with karen and her friends at her bar one thanksgiving and i thought we should get together again.mom would talk to katie wheeler occasionally and keep us up on what the two of you were doing-although she never mentioned that karen had moved to n.c.nor you.please get in touch with either kelly or myself.our family is small and we should try not to let so much time go by before we hear from each other,and not just at sad times like now.take care of yourself kate and my best to your family.always chris
Marty, I just want to say how shocked and saddened I am to hear of Karens passing. My heart goes out to. Time heals.Susan.
Dear Kate,
My deepest sympathies go out to you. Though we seem to have fallen out of touch, I have many vivid and wonderful childhood memories of holiday dinners at your house and the Driscolls’, fun trips to Nantucket, and lots of trouble we all got into together. I am so very sorry that Karen is not among us any longer, but I am sure Rita will be there with welcome arms as Karen joins her in the next world. My deepest condolences to you, Kate. Love, Deirdre
I LOVE YOU AUNT KAREN!!!!!!!!
aND I AKWAYZ WILL….SEE YOU SOMETIME.BYE BYE <3 ALWAYZ
AUNT KAREN WE MISS YOU SO MUST I WISH YOU WOULD COME BACK ITS NOT FAIR THAT YOU HAD TO LEAVE US…I’LL ALWAYZ LOVE YOU EVEN THOUGHT I DIDN’T GET TO REALLY SAY GOODBYE….
Karen was in two of my real estate broker classes in 1999-2000. She, myself and another man (Terry) were a three person team who set up the ‘company’ TPK Realty named for ourselves for one of our class projescts. She was a very vibrant, personable person, and enjoyable to work with. I am so sorry to hear of her passing away. My sympathy to you her family. May GOD comfort you daily.
Karen was a mother to me, she touched us in so many ways. I cannot begin to count how many times that when things would go sour in my life she was always there. It seems that Karen was the center of the circle of friends always the first to help with anything always cheerfull. She will live forever in our hearts, and will never be forgot. We love her dearly
I met Karen when she owned Turtles.I found her to be very warm hearted, funny, and always in control. We clicked right away and she took me in under her wing. She introduced me to a group of the finest people whom I am friends with to this day. She was the center of light, the nucleus, and a surrogate mother to many. She was there while I matured, she was there when I got married, and she was there when I had my children.
Always the mother watching over us all bringing us together. Now in this difficult, emotional time, she brings us together again. It brings me great comfort to know that there is a new shining star, and an angel watching over me. Sleep In The Stars Karen… I will never forget you. To her beloved Marty, you will not have to go through this alone, we are all here for you!
Sorry to hear such sad news. Tried to keep in touch when Karen moved to N.C. Would like to hear from Kate.