Here is a message that I received from a member of the Western Winter Sports Reprresentitive Association:
Karen Turner 1947-2019
It’s with a heavy heart that the WWSRA Family says goodbye to Karen Turner.
Karen Turner, member #1840 and member since 1984. Wife of Morgan Turner, WWSRA President, and mother to Brooke Turner, member of WWSRA since 2006 when she joined the family business.
To most, Karen was Morgan’s wife & Brooke’s mom. She was the stunning and immaculately dressed woman with gorgeous white hair, the kind most women can only dream of having. She was loyal to her simple but beautiful attire, her golden bear necklace, and her Kaphan bracelets. She could always be found at the side of Brooke & Morgan or catching up with her many friends during a WWSRA show. But what most don’t know is the role that Karen played in the many successes of WWSRA over the course of 40+ years as a member of WWSRA and a co-founder of Turner Ltd.
In the early ‘70s, Morgan & Karen along with a small group of reps started what became the Rocky Mountain Preview. Around 1978, Morgan & Phil Paolili dreamed up an event to get buyers out of their shops and reps out of their vans. The intent was to get everyone on snow for a few days to test skis and enjoy the #1 reason they were all in this business in the first place. From here, the Rocky Mountain Trade Fair was born becoming one of, if not, the first organized on-snow demo in the country. While Morgan and the boys were out on the hill getting everyone in their places, Karen was behind the scenes orchestrating most of the details. Over the course of the next decade they produced an enormously successful event that grew into other regions until it became too large for a handful of reps to continue managing and they asked WWSRA to take over. Ultimately, under Karen’s careful management, they donated the reserves to WWSRA to help fund the future.
In 2005, after decades of doing the bookkeeping for Turner Ltd. and many other small businesses, Karen took over the bookkeeping for WWSRA when we moved the offices to Colorado. If you think Karen was meticulous in her appearance, her bookkeeping was flawless. Karen worked with us for years to account for business expenses down to the penny, keeping us in line, on track, and always within budget. She was tireless and relentless in her pursuit of helping WWSRA create a financially healthy and stable future. Karen taught us everything she knew about budgeting and financial accountability.
But above all, Karen was a historian and a storyteller. She could remember details about your fellow reps down to the way they wore their hair in a particular decade, or the ski outfit they wore on a powder day in 1975, and if they were lucky enough to be in Scott boots and on “The Ski.” It was truly remarkable. My early years with WWSRA were filled with Karen’s countless stories of pattern making with Sam & Bob Roffe, antics in Las Vegas, and products that built the foundation for an industry, but are now simply myths. Much of my knowledge of the early characters of this industry came from Karen.
Almost 2 years ago to the day of her passing, Morgan & Brooke were deep in Labor Day sales and had asked me to look in on Karen throughout the weekend and take her and Bella (her beloved Lab) for walks. At this point, we were losing Karen to Alzheimer’s, but the woman we all loved and respected could still be found from time to time. As she and I were having tea, I asked her to tell me stories about her parents and family and was happy to just listen to where her mind was taking us. Much of what she recounted was hard to follow, but at some point in the conversation she mentioned K2; Morgan was among the earlier reps in the country, and I asked her, “Who founded K2?” Without hesitation, she said “Bill & Don Kirschner.” Embarrassing to admit, but I had to fact check her when I got home and of course, she was right.
Karen was mom to an enormously strong and beautiful daughter, Brooke; and was the wife & other limb to our fearless and strong leader, Morgan. Our industry was her life and she loved it.
Thank you Karen for your years of service, guidance and love. WWSRA will always be eternally grateful to you and your family.
Services for Karen will be held Friday, August 9th 2019 at 2:00 p.m.
Howe Mortuary: 439 Coffman St. Longmont, CO
There is more info at dignitymemorial.com.
Please leave your favorite memories on this site as well.
In lieu of flowers the Turner family asks that donations be made to:
Suncrest Hospice Fort Collins
1605 Foxtrail Dr.
Suite 200
Loveland, CO 80538
Phone: 970-619-8378
John McLeod
I am very sorry to hear of Karen's passing.
Robert Boice
Here is a message that I received from a member of the Western Winter Sports Reprresentitive Association:
Karen Turner 1947-2019
It’s with a heavy heart that the WWSRA Family says goodbye to Karen Turner.
Karen Turner, member #1840 and member since 1984. Wife of Morgan Turner, WWSRA President, and mother to Brooke Turner, member of WWSRA since 2006 when she joined the family business.
To most, Karen was Morgan’s wife & Brooke’s mom. She was the stunning and immaculately dressed woman with gorgeous white hair, the kind most women can only dream of having. She was loyal to her simple but beautiful attire, her golden bear necklace, and her Kaphan bracelets. She could always be found at the side of Brooke & Morgan or catching up with her many friends during a WWSRA show. But what most don’t know is the role that Karen played in the many successes of WWSRA over the course of 40+ years as a member of WWSRA and a co-founder of Turner Ltd.
In the early ‘70s, Morgan & Karen along with a small group of reps started what became the Rocky Mountain Preview. Around 1978, Morgan & Phil Paolili dreamed up an event to get buyers out of their shops and reps out of their vans. The intent was to get everyone on snow for a few days to test skis and enjoy the #1 reason they were all in this business in the first place. From here, the Rocky Mountain Trade Fair was born becoming one of, if not, the first organized on-snow demo in the country. While Morgan and the boys were out on the hill getting everyone in their places, Karen was behind the scenes orchestrating most of the details. Over the course of the next decade they produced an enormously successful event that grew into other regions until it became too large for a handful of reps to continue managing and they asked WWSRA to take over. Ultimately, under Karen’s careful management, they donated the reserves to WWSRA to help fund the future.
In 2005, after decades of doing the bookkeeping for Turner Ltd. and many other small businesses, Karen took over the bookkeeping for WWSRA when we moved the offices to Colorado. If you think Karen was meticulous in her appearance, her bookkeeping was flawless. Karen worked with us for years to account for business expenses down to the penny, keeping us in line, on track, and always within budget. She was tireless and relentless in her pursuit of helping WWSRA create a financially healthy and stable future. Karen taught us everything she knew about budgeting and financial accountability.
But above all, Karen was a historian and a storyteller. She could remember details about your fellow reps down to the way they wore their hair in a particular decade, or the ski outfit they wore on a powder day in 1975, and if they were lucky enough to be in Scott boots and on “The Ski.” It was truly remarkable. My early years with WWSRA were filled with Karen’s countless stories of pattern making with Sam & Bob Roffe, antics in Las Vegas, and products that built the foundation for an industry, but are now simply myths. Much of my knowledge of the early characters of this industry came from Karen.
Almost 2 years ago to the day of her passing, Morgan & Brooke were deep in Labor Day sales and had asked me to look in on Karen throughout the weekend and take her and Bella (her beloved Lab) for walks. At this point, we were losing Karen to Alzheimer’s, but the woman we all loved and respected could still be found from time to time. As she and I were having tea, I asked her to tell me stories about her parents and family and was happy to just listen to where her mind was taking us. Much of what she recounted was hard to follow, but at some point in the conversation she mentioned K2; Morgan was among the earlier reps in the country, and I asked her, “Who founded K2?” Without hesitation, she said “Bill & Don Kirschner.” Embarrassing to admit, but I had to fact check her when I got home and of course, she was right.
Karen was mom to an enormously strong and beautiful daughter, Brooke; and was the wife & other limb to our fearless and strong leader, Morgan. Our industry was her life and she loved it.
Thank you Karen for your years of service, guidance and love. WWSRA will always be eternally grateful to you and your family.
Services for Karen will be held Friday, August 9th 2019 at 2:00 p.m.
Howe Mortuary: 439 Coffman St. Longmont, CO
There is more info at dignitymemorial.com.
Please leave your favorite memories on this site as well.
In lieu of flowers the Turner family asks that donations be made to:
Suncrest Hospice Fort Collins
1605 Foxtrail Dr.
Suite 200
Loveland, CO 80538
Phone: 970-619-8378
Julie Bryant (Nelson)
Thanks Bob for posting this message about Karen! Such a wonderful tribute.