KAREN VILLA EARNS LIFE MASTER (Karen and best friend Bogey, pictured below)


Karen Villa earned her Life Master this past August winning the Gold points she needed at the Phoenix Regional tournament.

Karen was born in Oklahoma and attended college at Oklahoma State University. This is where she first learned to play bridge. Her first husband was a pilot and Major in the Air Force where Karen also polished her skills at the bridge table playing at the officers clubs with other wives. After a divorce in 1975, Karen began her first career owning and operating a catering business. She was later hired by May Corporation in Los Angeles, California and started a career as a merchandise buyer. She advanced to Division Sales Manager of May Corporation at the Thousand Oaks Store which was a $30 million business with responsibility for 300 personnel.

Karen and second husband Bill retired to Sedona in 1993. Each has two children. Now that her children are grown, Bogey, a West Highland Terrier, has become Karen’s best friend in Sedona. While in Sedona, Karen became very involved in charitable operations such as the Verde Valley Caregivers where she volunteered four days a week. She is also active in the Village of Oak Creek (VOCA) association activities.

Most of Karen’s time is now taken with Bridge and her husband Bill, and of course, Bogey. She has taken lessons from Suzanne Wells and wants to thank her good friend Rollin Brewer for being her “Monday” bridge partner in Sedona.

Karen set a goal to obtain the 25 Gold points she needed for her Life Master at the beginning of the year. She earned 14.5 gold/ 24 total master points in March in St. Louis at the North American Bridge National Championships with partners Jan Birkett, Marsha & Darryl Helton. Karen’s team of Linda Mueller, Jan Birkett and Cass Johnson earned the remaining gold needed for her Life Masters at Phoenix in August. Karen wants to express her sincere thanks to all those who contributed to her Life Master Goal.

Our congratulations to Karen and best wishes for more bridge success in the future.