Karla Sue Meador

Karla Sue Meador (1953-2012) Karla "Lala" Meador died on Monday, June 4, 2012 of small cell lung cancer under Hospice care at Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene, Texas. Karla was 58 years old. Born in Abilene, Texas on September 27, 1953 Karla Sue Simpson was the third of four children born to Joe Simpson and Ora Louise Hawkins Simpson. Karla was raised in Abilene, and attended Crockett Elementary, Jefferson Middle School, and Cooper High School, from which she graduated in 1972 and then attended Abilene Commercial College in 1973. On August 16, 1975 Karla married Lester Dale Meador at Southwest Park Baptist Church. Between 1975 and 1985 Karla was employed by Bank of Commerce, Abilene National Bank, and First State Bank, and then stayed home to care for her two daughters during the following eight years. Karla returned to work on September 27, 1993 as a Teacher's Aid for the Abilene Independent School District, working at Johnston Elementary, Mann Middle School, and finally at Madison Middle School until May 2012. Karla is survived by her husband of 36 years Dale Meador, eldest daughter Kadee Sedtal and her husband Jeff of Bossier City, Louisiana, youngest daughter Kristy Wright and her husband Garrett of Arlington, Virginia, three grandchildren Leah, Jeffrey and Claire Sedtal, sister Janice Cook of Abilene and brother Mark Simpson of Santa Fe, New Mexico. She is also survived by six nephews and one niece. A funeral service will be held at Hamil Family Funeral Home at 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene, Texas at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, June 11 officiated by Senior Pastor David Cason of Broadview Baptist Church. Pallbearers will be Steven White, Mikeal White, Ray Homeyer, Wayne Hanson, Brian Reed and Doug Poli. Interment will be held at the Cedar Gap Cemetery immediately following the funeral service on June 11. Family and friends are welcome and encouraged to attend. Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 10 between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Karla has touched the lives of many with her sense of humor, her joy of life and her limitless capacity to love unconditionally. Karla's laugh, patience, and warmth were an inspiration to family, friends, colleagues, and students alike. Professionally and personally, she was an unfailing source of honesty, guidance, and understanding to those around her. A wonderful and supportive wife, a proud mother, and a beloved friend; Karla Meador will be loved and missed forever. "To laugh often and much;...to leave the world a bit better;... to know that one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." -Ralph Waldo Emerson "Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy." -Max Ehrmann Desiderata, c.1920