Karla Gay Rizley Maudlin was born on March 14, 1950, and passed away at her home in Sayre Oklahoma on November 8, 2023, at the age of 73. She was born and raised in Sayre and graduated from Sayre High School in 1968. After graduating she moved to Weatherford and briefly attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University before completing her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education at the University of Central Oklahoma. Karla married Lawrence Gene Maudlin on June 3, 1972, and started her teaching career in Oklahoma City. They then moved to Lawton where she began her 39-year career with Lawton Public Schools. After several years of being a classroom teacher, she would go on to complete her master’s in early childhood development at the University of Oklahoma. Karla then became a Principal at Pecan Grove, Park Lane, and Pat Henry before her last position at Learning Tree Academy. She was given the task of starting Learning Tree Academy from the ground up. This was one of her proudest accomplishments. She would later take the position of Director of Early Childhood and Elementary Education for LPS where she would eventually retire. Throughout her career, Karla was an active member with P.E.O. International which was a sisterhood that promotes educational opportunities for women. After retirement, she worked as a child advocate for CASA. She had many hobbies including sewing, sail boating, traveling, and shopping. Karla was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and an influence to many children throughout her career. She was an active member of Centenary United Methodist Church in Lawton and Sayre United Methodist Church.
She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Lawrence Gene Maudlin of Sayre, her two sons, Shawn Maudlin of Lawton, and Tyler Maudlin of Edmond, her brother Keith Rizley and wife Sharon of Sayre, Kelly Rizley and wife Keri of Ft Collins, grandchildren Chase, Dash, Rush, Axel, and Aubree, and a host of other family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her father Carl Rizley, mother Helen Gay Rizley Armstrong, and brothers Kirk Rizley, Kent Rizley.
A Celebration of Life will be held in her honor at Lawton Country Club on Wednesday November 15 from 5:30-7:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family would like any donations to be made to P.E.O. International at https://donations.peointernational.org
