Christen Durant

Christen Durant, 30, of Osage Beach, Missouri, passed away at Lake Regional Health System on Monday, March 9, 2026. She was born in Osage Beach on March 4, 1996, the daughter of William and Teresa (Sluss) Durant.

Christen was known for her bubbly spirit and “butterfly” energy, the kind of person whose presence could brighten a room the moment she arrived. Caring and deeply kind, she was loved by many for the genuine warmth she carried in her heart. Despite the hardships she faced, she rarely let her smile fade. She had a remarkable ability to find joy in the smallest moments and chose kindness and light no matter what life placed in her path. She loved swimming, good food, and anything that felt magical or whimsical. Though health challenges limited her travel, she cherished small outings and took great delight in dreaming aloud about the places she hoped to visit one day.

She is survived by her husband, David Buerky; her mother, Teresa Durant; her siblings, Anthony (Ashley) Durant and Michael (Tommy) Durant; and those she considered siblings, Alex (Ashley) Foote, Skylar (Dani) Curry, Preston Curry, and Shelbie (Kenny) Carnahan. She is also survived by her special friend and second father, Willie Dickelman; her maternal grandfather, Willie Sluss; her nieces and nephews, Isaac, Emily, Ronan, Carson, Owen, Marley, Kiran, Alice, and Camron; other relatives; and many friends. Christen was preceded in death by her father, William Durant; her grandmothers; and her husband’s grandparents, Mary and Gerald Godfrey.