Gayla Sue (Stewart) Atkinson

Gayla Sue (Stewart) Atkinson passed away April 18, 2026, in Lawton, Oklahoma. She was born in Bochita, Oklahoma, in her grandmother's home on March 31, 1950, to Alfred Perry Stewart and Myrtle Isabelle Stewart. Her very early years were lived on a farm where she developed a deep love and appreciation of plants and animals. From that came a green thumb, and she spent many, many hours later in life making her home a green oasis.

Early in life, Gayla moved with her family to various places in West Texas and California before settling in the Tipton, Oklahoma, area. There she spent much of her teen years and graduated as a full-blown Tipton tiger in 1968. Tipton is where she considered home and where she maintained many life-long friends and schoolmates. Her three sisters all made Tipton their homes for several years before scattering to Mustang, Oklahoma, and with her one older, almost twin sister, Dora Powell, ending up in Carthage, Texas.

Gayla met in February and married Lynn Atkinson in August 1972. They moved several times arriving in Lawton, Oklahoma, in 1975. They were not blessed with children but showered their love on their fur babies and derived great joy from that.

Gayla had a wide range of jobs and occupations during her professional career, working in a leather factory to credit reporting. After moving to Lawton, she began working in real estate as a loan closer and as a realtor. She was also a gifted interior decorator and a home refurbisher.

Later in life, during retirement, she kept her home, her yard, her pets, and her husband nourished and flourishing. Having the nicest home on the block was her goal. She also spent hundreds of hours researching the genealogy of her family and traced them back for generations.

Gayla loved reading her Bible and listening to the preaching of Greg Locke, rarely missing one of his streamed services. The lives of the musicians and music of Three Dog Night had become her latest interest.

She is survived by her husband of the home; her sister Nancy Hadlock and family of Mustang, OK; her sister Dora Powell and family of Carthage, TX; her sister-in-law Vickie Hull and family of Cordell, OK; her sister-in-law Ginger Butler and family of Cordell, OK; her sister-in-law Geri Moffatt and family of Edmond, OK; plus many nieces and nephews and their families.

She was preceded in death by her parents and older sister Vickie Hadlock.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to your preferred local church or ministry in Gayla’s name. 

A Graveside service will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2026, beginning at 11:00 a.m. at Tipton Cemetery in Tipton, OK.