Glenda Lea Karns Carlisle

Glenda was 88 years loved and died of complications from Vascular Dementia. Born on Aug. 3, 1935, to Herbert Lee Rash and Emma Iola Dayton Rash in Enid, Oklahoma, it was said she came into this world on the hottest day of the year.

She grew up in Enid, alongside her younger brother, Larry Rash. Her father was a 32nd degree Mason and her mother was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. Glenda served as the Worthy Advisor for the Enid Chapter of Eastern Star.

Glenda graduated from Enid High School in 1953. She always enjoyed accounting, and after graduation, worked as a bookkeeper at Champlin Refining Company in Enid Oklahoma. In 1956, when she turned 21 years of age, she was hired by Northwest Orient Airlines as a Stewardess. She moved to New York City after her training and flew the New York City to Bermuda routes. While working at Northwest Orient Airlines she met Thomas John Demo. They married in July of 1957 and moved to Oklahoma City, where Glenda worked as a bookkeeper for the Bond Bread Baking Company. Glenda gave birth to Thomas Michael (Mike) Demo in May of 1959. She and Thomas divorced in 1960.

Glenda married her second husband, Edward Eugene Karns, Jr in 1961 and gave birth to a daughter, Teresa Lynn in December of 1961. Kevin Eugene was born in September of 1963. Over the next 30 years, Glenda worked as a bookkeeper for several businesses in the Oklahoma City area, including the KATT radio station and Brassfield’s RV of Bethany, Oklahoma. She and Edward devoted their lives to raising their three children, supporting their little league sports, and attending school functions. Summers were regularly spent at Glenda’s parent’s cabin on the Chikaskia River near the Oklahoma/Kansas border. Days were spent swimming, fishing and water skiing from dawn to dusk. Glenda was married to her second husband, Edward, for 23 years, until he died of cancer in June of 1984. In May of 1992 Glenda married her third husband, Edgar Carlisle, the pastor of Sara Road Baptist Church in Yukon, Oklahoma. As a pastor’s wife, she taught Sunday School, played the piano during Worship services, and supported Edgar in his pastoral duties. They traveled extensively doing missionary work in China, Hawaii and various mainland states within the US. Edgar passed away in 2014.

Glenda loved water skiing, gardening, sewing, singing, playing the piano, and watching OU football. From 1987 – 1992, she sang and danced with the Sweet Adelines chorus group in Oklahoma City. She moved to the Spanish Cove Retirement Community in Yukon, Oklahoma in 2012, and especially loved singing in the church choir and competing on the Spanish Cove Senior rowing team. They would frequently take first place in their division during rowing races held on the North Canadian River near downtown Oklahoma City. She was a resident at Spanish Cove until 2018, when she moved to the Parc at Traditions Memory Care Unit in Bryan, TX. She passed away peacefully at 10:25 a.m. on Dec. 22, 2023.

Throughout her life, she was kind and loving to all who met her. She had an infectious smile and a wonderful sense of humor that she shared with friends and family. She made a mean lasagna and was always willing to lend a hand and pitch in whenever there was work to be done. In spite of the dementia that eventually took her life, she never lost her playful nature and loving spirit.

Glenda’s mother, father, and three husbands all preceded her in death. She is survived by her younger brother, Larry Rash of Enid, her three children, Mike Demo of Oklahoma City, Teresa Karns Edmondson and her husband John of Franklin, TX and Kevin Karns and his wife, Lea of Portland, Maine; two grandsons, Cole Edward and Harrison Glen (both of Oklahoma City), and numerous nieces and nephews. She will be laid to rest next to Edward Eugene Karns, Jr at the Chapel Hill Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Services will be held on January 5, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at Chapel Hill Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.