Mary F Karl

Mary was born on September 11, 1925. The jazz age was in full swing and that’s how Mary started out her life. Lively and full of fun. She was the first of five children born to Carrie Marie Harris and George Harvey Ottens. The family had its challenges like everyone in those days, but all the children were loved and well cared for. Mary adored her sister, Rosie and her brother’s Donnie, Franklin and the last of the crew was baby brother Eldon “Butch” who was Mary’s practice for becoming a mother. She actually practiced that for her entire life.

Mary celebrated 58 years being married to Lyle Karl; she would say it was exciting and definitely an adventure. After Lyle returned from WW2, they lived in Kansas City Kansas. Her daughter, Lyla Marie, was born in 1946, a plump 9 lbs 14 oz. Mary was the ultimate mother. Seeing that Lyla had everything she needed, they spent many an hour looking in old purses and pants pockets to get enough money for that popsicle before the ice cream many passed the house. The family bought a cabin, 1 room with an outhouse at Gardner Lake. From the first trip it was quite a sight seeing Mary, Lyle, Lyla, Grandma Karl, the dog Sparky and Grandma’s bird Butchie in the front seat of a 1949 truck. They also loved hosting Lyla’s friends at their house and taking them all to the lake to swim and eat tons of hamburgers. She and Lyle were quite a team of watching those teenage kids. That lead to stories they told throughout their lives. Mary joyfully prepared pounds of burgers and dogs over the grill while the kids gobbled them up. Many memories were made at that tiny, fun lake house.

Life got easier and Mary enjoyed her entire family. The first and only nephew was born, and Mary adored him from the very start. He was followed by 5 nieces. Each and everyone was a treasure throughout her life. She loved to tell stories of how ornery they were and much she loved them. After Lyle passed in 2000, Mary moved to Texas to be near her daughter and lived with her for 15 years.

Mary, being strong and independent 93 decided that she was very capable of being on her own. She moved into an independent living facility and enjoyed a beautiful, warm, friendly apartment at Good Samaritan not far from her daughter and son-in-law. She continued to cook, do her own laundry walk “all four floors” every day and take good care of herself. She was very proud that on her 96th birthday she introduced over 80 people by their first and last names. Two days before she passed, she was insistent that she was going to make her son-in-law’s favorite pineapple upside down cake for Father’s Day.

It was January 4, 1970 that a new blessing exploded into Mary’s life. Granddaughter, Lisa was born. Things were never the same. She was a grandmother who wanted nothing more than to get on the floor and play games, have tea parties. Everything else stopped when Li came to see her. Mary was suspect that the other Grand was probably not capable of knowing how to care for her precious granddaughter. When Li started dancing or doing any activity that was a competition or performance, Mary was right there, in the front row! It was more than fitting that Lisa was at her side when she took her last breath; playing 40s music that she had taped and giving her a foot massage that she looked forward to at each visit.

Mary had many close friends and enjoyed all of kinds of activities including exercise and tai chi classes. Mary had many hobbies, China painting, ceramics, reading, exercising, rug hooking, knitting and crocheting. She was active in church, attending, singing and even taking cruises with her “Searchers group. She made many prayer shawls and newborn hats which she donated to area people in need through First United Methodist Church Denton. Mary loved people and had a gift of making even those most down, smile and laugh with her well-known sense of humor. I believe her calling was making those around her see a ray of sunshine!

Mary’s work career started after Lyle told her she didn’t have any skills so she proved herself more that capable of doing many fun jobs which proved just how versatile she was. She worked for Kansas City Kansas City recreation teaching rug hooking, the she ventured out and worked at Russell Stover's as a candy packer for years. If you remember, | Love Lucy and how ornery my mom was and you can imagine the picture! And she worked as a Library Assistant at Whiter Elementary School. She and Lyle provided many a new coat, scarves and gloves to those needing a little extra help.

Although she had a variety of conditions that landed her in the hospital, she was driven to be in shape and “ready to go” at a moment’s notice. After day after she passed, the therapist in the rehab center broke down and sobbed, saying she just rode the bicycle and walked 125 yards yesterday.

Mary was seen just the Sunday before her death, wheeling other “old “residents from the chapel at Good Samaritan back to their room while the Pastor, chased behind her with her walker.

She was preceded in death by her Mother, Carrie Harris Ottens, her Father George Harvey Ottens, Kansas City Kansas, and two brothers, Donald Ottens and Franklin Ottens and her dearly beloved sister, Rosie Anna Martin.

She is survived by her daughter Lyla Kimberly Karl, son in law, Stan of Little Elm, Texas and her always perfect granddaughter, Lisa Draskovich Long of Brea, California, her brother, Eldon (Butch)Ottens and his wife, Donna, her sister's husband, Bob. Those five precious nieces, Brenda Espy, Teresa Shaver, and Christie Martin, Cindy Quaintance and Susan Mills, and 1 nephew, Larry Ottens and many great nieces and nephews. Mary enjoyed a beautiful life in the arms of our Lord and knew he was ready to call her home, and passed with family close by her side. Her final words were spoken to her daughter were, I know that you and Lisa don’t want me to go, but the Good Lord is ready! Mary would have been 98 on September 11th.

Mary was a blessing and shared her gifts with so many and will be missed. May she rest in peace.

A a celebration of life for Mary will be held Friday, September 15, 2023 at 1:00 PM.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.chapelhill-butler.com for the Karl family.