Kayla Kitchen McGaugh's Obituary
Kayla Kitchen McGaugh, age 84, of Tula, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 29, 2024. Born on May 9, 1940, in Atlanta, Georgia, she was the beloved daughter of William Carey and Frances Marybeth (Lunsford) Kitchen. Kayla grew up in College Park, Georgia, where she developed a lifelong passion for dance and served as a crossing guard-a role she cherished, even keeping her uniform for many years. Known affectionately as "Bunny," she was the only daughter among three brothers and remained especially close with her father, referring to him as "Daddy" well into her 80s.
Kayla attended high school in College Park and was inseparable from her best friend, Shirley. Later in life, she forged a deep, lifelong friendship with Nancy Wilson and Bobi Brown, with whom she formed a singing trio during the 1960s. Her life took a romantic turn when she met James "Don" McGaugh through a mutual friend. The night they met, Don serenaded her with "Moonlight in Vermont," and they instantly fell in love, dancing the night away. The couple married on September 21, 1991, in a small church in West Tulsa, and shared a love of music, dancing, and cruising.
Kayla had six children and became a grandmother to her 15 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren, who affectionately called her "Lala." She was a gifted cook, known for her homemade croutons and delicious Southern cooking. Kayla had an exceptional talent for crafting, gardening, and wrapping gifts, and her handwriting was so elegant, it resembled calligraphy.
A woman of many talents, Kayla broke new ground as the first female grip for 20th Century Fox Studios, where she worked on various movies and T.V. productions. Throughout her life, she also worked for a siding company, DirecTV, and real estate in Sylmar, California. Known for her vibrant energy and creativity, she was also a "born-again cruiser," working for Cruises, Inc., and traveling with her beloved Don.
Kayla is preceded in death by her parents, her daughter Deborah Lynn, granddaughter Amber Leigh, and her three brothers. She is survived by her loving husband, Don; her children, Johnny Ford, Lowell Ford, Jr., Vickie Corraro (Carmen), Victor Ford (Michelle), and Pattie Fair (Dale); her grandchildren, Robert, Kira, Elyse, Yvonne, Christopher, Victoria, Elijah, Lauren, Anthony, Samantha, Elise, Matthew, Aaron, and Faith; and 11 great-grandchildren.
A private celebration honoring Kayla's life will be held at 4:00 PM on Saturday, October 12, 2024, in a private location. Kayla's memory will forever live in the hearts of her family and friends.
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