L. Karen Kirkpatrick

L. Karen Kirkpatrick, 78, daughter of C.C. and Leta Kirkpatrick, of Oklahoma City, died in her home Saturday, July 8, 2017. She was born September 2, 1938 in Oklahoma City to C.C. and Leta Lois Kirkpatrick. After Northwest Classen High School, she went to and graduated from Oklahoma State University majoring in art education. In 1960, she began her career as an elementary school art teacher in Jefferson, Colorado, until returning to Oklahoma in 1970 to teach in the Putnam City school district. She earned countless awards for her teaching, including Putnam City Schools Teacher of the Year and Oklahoma Art Educator of the Year. She was chairperson of Young Talent in Oklahoma several years and can be called the "Queen of Youth Arts Month" since she was so passionate about this effort in March of every year. Karen spent countless hours making sure each year's YAM celebration was a success. Karen worked for other organizations for young artists including Oklahoma Alliance for Arts Education. She retired in 2003 after 44 years touching many lives and opening a world of creativity and imagination for the young students in her classroom. Art was her true passion and she created works in many media, including oils, acrylics, sculpture, fabric, and mixed media. Karen believed an art teacher should also keep creating their own art, and won many "Best of Show" awards in exhibitions through the years. A major theme in her work was celebration of the past, reflections of her Oklahoma childhood and life. This theme carried over her in her life. She was sure to tell you a story about her life, always starting with "Now honey...." Karen is survived by her sister, Judy Reynolds, of Norman, her niece, Kelly Reynolds and great-nephew Ryan Caetano of Tulsa and nephew, Steve Reynolds and wife Suzy Thompson and son Sangster, of Santa Fe along with several cousins who she was very close to. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Oklahoma Art Education Association, 2609 Sunset Drive, Clinton OK 73601 or Oklahoma Alliance for Arts Education, P.O. Box 1275, Jenks, OK 74037 A Celebration of Life service will be held Tuesday, August 8th at 2 pm at the N. May Chapel at Smith & Kernke Funeral Home (14624 N. May Ave., OKC, OK 73134).