Gayla Kathleen Hite was born March 24th, 1949 in Altus, Oklahoma to Wanda Oneda (Clevenger) and Floyd Leslie Wilks. She passed away in Edmond, Oklahoma on Wednesday, October 8th, 2025 at the age of 76 years, 6 months and 14 days.

Gayla grew up in Cold Springs and later moved with her family to Roosevelt, Oklahoma where she graduated in 1967. After graduation she attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University where she received her bachelors degree in Elementary Education. She began her teaching career in Vici, Oklahoma and briefly in Liberal, Kansas before settling in Burns Flat where she completed her career that spanned 39 years in elementary education. During her early years at Burns Flat she met a gentleman by the name of Steven Lynn Hite and they were later married on December 22, 1978. Together they made Burns Flat their home and began a family. In May of 2011, Gayla formally retired and filled her retirement years with traveling to Branson, traveling abroad, cross stitching, scrap booking and spending time with her family and friends. Gayla was especially proud of her faith and on her trip to Israel she demonstrated that by being baptized in the Jordan River.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Steven; 2 sisters, Cherilyn Roberts and Elaine Barker; one brother, Merle Wilks.

Gayla is survived by her daughter, Shawna Jackson, Edmond, OK; 1 granddaughter, Jaela Jackson, Okarche, OK; 1 sister, Stanna Lee, Chickasha, OK and a host of other relatives and friends.