Karen Sue Durham

July 7, 1951 - March 26, 2018

Funeral Services for Karen Sue Durham, age 66 of Lindale, Texas are scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Friday, March 30, 2018 at the Caudle-Rutledge-Daugherty Funeral Home Chapel in Lindale, TX with Rev. Rick Ivey officiating. Interment will follow at the DFW National Cemetery at 11:30 am on Tuesday, April 3rd. Karen Sue passed away, Monday, March 26, 2018 in Tyler, Texas. She was born July 7, 1951 in Pittsburg, Texas to the late Rendell C. and Madeline (Land) Webb. Previously of Tucson, AZ Karen Sue has lived the last 17 years in Lindale where she was an active member of the First United Methodist Church. She was retired from the Federal Aviation Administration as a Nav-Com Tower Chief at the DFW International Airport. A proud native Texan, Karen loved touring the countryside on motorcycle especially in spring when the wildflowers bloom. She also loved the Christmas season and decorating with her amazing collection of ornaments and miniature houses and villages. Karen was originally diagnosed with an aggressive Stage 2 invasive breast cancer at the age of 38. Karen’s interest in metastatic breast cancer and clinical trials heightened when she was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic disease in 2009. She enrolled in a clinical trial and was an exceptional responder for 6 years. Karen Sue was a highly respected advocate for breast cancer patients and research to end this disease. She was selected as a Susan G. Komen Scholar and Advocates in Science Steering Committee member and served locally on the Tyler Affiliate Board of Directors and as the Affiliate Grants Chair. Karen participated in research peer review at Komen and the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs. Karen was an appointed member of the ASCO CancerLinQ Patient Advisory Committee, the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance Information Task Force, and the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology. She is survived by her husband of 22 years, Tom Durham of Lindale, Texas; Daughter, Tina Sterling of Chandler, Texas; Brother, Rendell Webb Jr. and his wife Cristela of Corpus Christi, Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews. Her family and many friends will miss her wonderful smile, her kind and giving spirit and her voice that spoke up for fellow breast cancer patients. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you honor Karen’s memory by contributing to your local Susan G. Komen Affiliate. www.komeneastcentraltexas.org Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, March 29, 2018.