Karan Sue Smith Garrett was made whole on Friday, May 1, 2026, in Altus, OK surrounded by those who loved her most.

Karan Sue Smith Garrett was born on March 8, 1940, in Collingsworth County, Texas to Orville Alfred Smith and Jewel Katherine Skaggs Smith. Karan and her family spent a little time in Arkansas before settling in Hereford, Texas. Karan attended school in Hereford, graduating in 1958. While in high school, Karan enjoyed reading and even spent a brief time in the marching band.

Karan married Galen Dean Garrett on July 1, 1960. The couple were married while Dean was on leave from the United States Army. They settled in Edgewood, Maryland, where Dean was stationed, and Karan worked as a secretary. They remained in Maryland until Dean was discharged in 1962.

The couple moved back to Hereford, Texas, where Dean started selling insurance and Karan went to college at West Texas State. During this time, the couple adopted two children, Jennifer Jean and Galen Russell (Rusty). The couple remained in Hereford until Karan graduated with her bachelor’s degree in education in 1967. The couple moved to Altus, Oklahoma, where Karan started her teaching career.

Karan was hired to work in Altus Schools and had the privilege to work under three different superintendents: Clifford Peterson, Dr. Morris Foster, and Dr. Mike Copeland. During her career at Altus Public Schools, she served under five principals and at four different schools. She served as a teacher at Roosevelt Elementary under Russell Coffee, teacher at Sunset Elementary under Cecil Jones and Mark Whitlock, counselor at Washington Elementary under Randy Ford, and counselor at Eugene Field under Lynn Rowland. In 1991 she was named a teacher of the year finalist while teaching at Sunset. One of her proudest achievements was when she received her master’s degree in counseling from Southwestern Oklahoma State College.

Sunset Elementary was the place that she considered home. She spent most of her career teaching in 5th and 2nd grades while at Sunset. Karan loved the people she taught with, loved the children she taught, and loved those whom she served under.

In life, there are some people you click with and others you don’t. Karen didn’t find many that she didn’t get along with. Karan made many lifelong friends that she communicated with up till the day of her passing. One of the things that those who worked with Karan remember most about her was her wit. Karan had a dry wit. She was constantly laughing and joking about the goings on at Sunset School.

While at Sunset, Karan could always be found sending notes of encouragement to family, friends, coworkers, and students. When her family was cleaning out her home, they found boxes of notes from her to other members of her Sunset family. She loved to write poems and limericks and sent them “anonymously” to people with pictures and cartoons with their face attached. When most people try to sum up Karan with one word, they choose encourager.

Karan was a member of the Oklahoma Education Association, Altus Classroom Teachers Association, American Association of University Women, The Erolethian Club, Jackson County Post Adjudication Review Board, and the Great Plains Literacy Council.

She was of the Christian Faith and was a member of the First Baptist Church since 1967. Karan was involved in her church. She was a VBS teacher and helper, Homebound worker, Intercessory Pray Ministry member, library assistant, and substitute teacher. Even while confined in the nursing home, Karan wrote prayer grams and words of encouragement to those in need. Her grandfather Rev. Issac Skaggs once told her that his favorite verse was Micah 6:8 ~ "He has shown you old man what is good and what the Lord requires of you. Act Justly, Seek Mercy, and Walk Humbly with your God." Karan not only learned this verse, but she also lived it.

If Karan were here, she would not want those who knew her to grieve. She had a verse on her refrigerator that said, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine”. She was always upbeat and encouraged all around her to be as well.

Karan is preceded in death by her parents, Orville Alfred Smith and Jewel Katherine Skaggs Smith; husband, Galen Dean Garrett; daughter, Jennifer Jean Garrett Smith; sister, June Marian Smith Owens; brother-in-law, Eldon Ray Owens; and brother, Garry Keith Smith.

She is survived by her son, Galen Russell (Rusty) Garrett; daughter-in-law, Sabina Prince Garrett; grandson, Jacob Glenn Garrett; granddaughter, Patricia Elizabeth Garrett; sister-in-law, Margaret Smith; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 2:00 PM in the Kincannon Memorial chapel with Dr. Jeff Moore and Rev. Doug Altom officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests you donate to the charity or church of your choosing. Online memorial tributes and expressions of sympathy may be left for the family at www.kincannonfuneralhome.com.