Karla Gayle Alexander

Karla Gayle Alexander October 2, 1939 - August 13, 2026 Karla Gayle Alexander - Karla to her friends, Mom to her four children, Mrs. A to her students, and finally Nana. She went to be with the Lord on August 13, 2026, at the age of 86. She was born on October 2, 1939, in Tulia, Texas, to Lem and Valera Weaver, and grew up in Silverton, where she graduated from Silverton High School. Karla was married to James Ross Alexander from 1957 to 1978, during which time they had four children together. After high school, she put herself through Texas Tech University, earning a bachelor's degree in mathematics in 1962. She went for the numbers and found the theater. She spent her college years on the University Theatre stage, including a turn opposite a young Barry Corbin in The Merry Wives of Windsor, years before Hollywood found him. She later returned to Texas Tech for a master's degree in theatre - two degrees that would end up describing the whole shape of her working life. Karla taught school for thirty-two years, retiring in the summer of 2003. She began teaching in Silverton, then went to the Lubbock Independent School District as a no-nonsense math teacher at Smylie Wilson Junior High and Estacado High School. In 1984, she moved to Slaton High School, where she not only taught math but also theatre for the next nineteen years, officially became Mrs. A., poured herself out, and, under her guidance, a small-town program turned into a serious contender in the UIL One-Act Play. Karla was a devout Christian and a longtime member of Trinity Church in Lubbock, where she was a constant in the Singles Group and later Prime Timers. She could always be counted on to pray for you and faithfully tithed her entire life. Above all, she loved her family and put her children first, sacrificing her own needs to give them a loving home and every opportunity she could find. While she kept her home a little on the cool side, her door was always open, and there was always something to eat. Karla was a wonderful cook and baker, producing such delights as lemonade pies and Mississippi Mud, and always having another gallon of Blue Bell in the freezer. And Christmas was always a favorite time of year for Karla, as her house transformed with her Santas and decorations waiting for her family to be with her. Karla is survived by her daughter, Sherrie Cooke; her sons, Ross Alexander, Karlen Alexander, and Creighton Alexander; twelve grandchildren; two great-grandchildren, with two more due in October; her sister and brother-in-law, Tina and Wayne Nance; her brother and sister-in-law, Max and Sheryl Weaver. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lem and Valera Weaver, her sister Anne Coleman, and her loving pets Bozo, Sammy, and Bonnie. Visitation will be held Friday, August 21, 2026, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Sanders Funeral Home in Lubbock. Funeral services will be Saturday, August 22, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in Sanders Memorial Chapel, with graveside services to follow at 2:00 p.m. at Silverton Cemetery.