January 8, 1958 - August 15, 2025
Gayla Deane Borthick was born Jan. 9, 1958 to Richard and Iris Hope in Fairfax, Oklahoma. She departed this life Aug. 15, 2025 at the age of 67 years.
Gayla was a proud member of the Class of 1976 at Bristow High School. She played the trumpet, and in her senior year she was crowned the High School Band Queen. Upon graduation, she set off for the west coast. After several years of roaming California and Oregon, she returned to Oklahoma, married Kenneth Smith in 1981, then moved back to California. Gayla and Kenneth had two children, Suncerae and Jacob, and in 1987, they settled in Waco, Texas for 15 years.
Gayla held many jobs, from waitress to administrative assistant to bookkeeper, before returning to school and earning her Bachelor of Business Administration from Baylor University with a double major in accounting and financial services and planning.
Gayla and Mike Borthick were united in marriage in 2002 in Bristow. She worked for many years as an accountant before buying D&D Office Supply in 2010 on Main Street in Bristow, where the two owned and operated the business for 11 years.
Gayla served on many different boards throughout her life, including as secretary and treasurer of Bristow Social Services. She was generous with her time and fostered a giving spirit. Gayla was always good with numbers, puzzles, and games. She probably won every game of Scrabble and Words with friends that she ever played.
She loved music, especially classic rock, and attended many live music shows. Though life was busy and sometimes chaotic, Gayla made time for the things that mattered most, her family and her many friends. She enjoyed traveling, and two standouts from the last few years included a girls trip to Nashville and a road trip to Yellowstone National Park, the home of her favorite bear, Grizzly 399. She loved to spend quiet mornings on her front porch birdwatching.
Gayla is survived by her husband, Mike Borthick; daughter, Suncerae Smith; son, Jacob Smith; stepson, Josh Borthick; stepdaughter, Shanna Borthick, stepson, Ryan Smith; stepdaughter, Mandy Smith; grandchildren, Logan Smith, Kayana Smith, Jaxsyn Compton, and Ella Belle Compton; brothers, Randy and Greg Rake and sisters-inlaw, Madeline Borthick, Tina Rake, Cookie Castor, as well as numerous beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, and extended family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Iris, stepdad, R Lee Rake, and brother, Terry Rake.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Class of 76 Scholarship Fund at Community Bank in Bristow, The Sam Varner Memorial Fireworks Celebration at the Bristow Police Department, or the National Parks Foundation at give.nationalparks.org.
Memorial services were held at 10 a.m ,Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025, at Freewill Baptist Church in Bristow.
Condolences may be made to the family online at www.matherlyfuneralhomes.com.