Kathleen Jeanette Floyd O’Rourke, age 62, took her final breath at 5:50 p.m. Sunday, April 30, 2023, in the arms of her husband, John O’Rourke, and daughter, Kellie Renfro, and passed into the arms of Jesus. Kathleen was born February 24, 1961, in Albuquerque, New Mexico to Walter and Helen Floyd.
Kathleen graduated Greenville High School in 1979 and went to Baylor University for nursing. On St. Patrick’s Day, 1981, it seemed that for the first time in her life, luck was on her side. She met John O’Rourke while working in a hospital in Tyler, Texas as he was visiting a family member. The connection was instant, and 3 days later John drove all the way from Dallas to Tyler, just to see the naturally beautiful nursing student, even though his family member was no longer admitted.
Kathleen and John were married on December 5, 1981. That same year, John started a career with the Fort Worth Police Department. Kathleen was a certified peace officer who worked as a dispatcher for the Burleson Police Department. While she enjoyed her job, more than anything, Kathleen desired to be a mother. After several miscarriages and being told she’d never successfully carry a child to term, she gave birth to Kellie Kathleen on November 6, 1985. Her second child, John Patrick, was born June 26, 1987.
Being a mother and a wife was what Kathleen loved more than anything, and she happily claimed “housewife” as her profession. She was always there for her children. The number of times she drove back up to the school to drop off forgotten homework, clothes, or money is more than either can recount, but will never forget. Her children could rely on her for anything, and it was such a comfort to know she’d always come to their rescue anytime they called. Kathleen also served as a “second mom” to many of her children’s friends. Kathleen understood how important it was that a child feel seen, heard, and loved, and she made sure every child who stepped foot into her home felt that way. She also did the same for many adults, opening her home to lost individuals, time after time, even after many took advantage of her and her generosity. She never gave up on anyone and always assumed the best.
Kathleen was an amazingly talented artist. She loved to sew and made quilts for everyone in her family. She also enjoyed painting and even painted a mural on the wall in a hallway in their home. Additionally, she enjoyed drawing and her favorite things to draw were flowers. Not only did she enjoy drawing flowers, but she enjoyed planting them. Before she got sick, you could often find Kathleen outside gardening.
Anyone who had the pleasure to get to know Kathleen knew how much fun she was. She was so full of life and could talk to anyone. She would share stories of her family, random life hacks, and historical anecdotes with anyone who would listen. Kathleen was an avid reader and a lifelong genealogist and historian. You knew one of her stories was getting good when she started throwing some colorful language in the mix, and she always had a way of making people laugh. She said what she was thinking and didn’t hold back the truth. This wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but her people who knew and loved her knew this was one of the many things that made her special. She loved hard, was incredibly resilient, and didn’t let life’s many hardships turn her bitter. As one of her “second kids” said, “She endured hardship, but it didn’t harden her – she gave more love.”
Kathleen and John were devout Jesus followers, and even though they were not physically well enough to attend church in person, they watched thousands of sermons at home and enjoyed nightly prayer time together as a family. Her salvation and the salvation of her immediate family was of the utmost importance to her.
Kathleen and John have lived in the same home in Burleson since 1983. She loved her home that she helped design, and it was her wish to die in that home. After years of fighting harder than anyone should have to, all the while displaying peace and courage unlike anything her family had ever seen, the signs were there that the end was near. She knew she would meet Jesus soon, and while she could easily have blamed the surgeon who caused this to happen, she chose forgiveness over hatred, and faced impending death with faith over fear.
She is survived by her husband and love of her life John, daughter Kellie Renfro and husband Shaun, son Patrick, grandchildren Grayson and Eli, and two sweet kitties.
