Marla Wythenia Sarokhanian

John 3:16 - For God so loved the World that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Marla Wythenia Sarokhanian, 63, of Coppell, Texas went to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, June 12, 2025.

Marla was born on Feb 5, 1962, in Poteau, Oklahoma to Joe and Marla Rowan. She lived in small town of Spiro near Poteau and finished high school in Spiro.

On August 6, 1980, she drove from Spiro to Poteau to register for the upcoming semester at Carl Albert, Jr. College. On that day, her dad had asked her to stop by Walmart in Poteau to buy a gift for her mom as her birthday was approaching. While she was at Walmart, she found her soul mate! Hamlet was in Walmart at that time because he was on his last few days of his time in Poteau as he graduated from that college and about to leave that town to go to University of Kansas for future education. He was in Walmart because he needed to buy film for his camera to take some photos of Poteau for memories before he left. So, at the right time and right place, their eyes connected, and immediate love was felt. Marla and Hamlet married on October 17, 1981, in Spiro.

Marla was always faithful to God since in her early days of her life by regularly attending church in Spiro and playing piano at the church. Throughout her life, she has been committed to God’s words and commands. She regularly attended St. Sarkis church and with her big smile and heart, she met and bonded with several parishioners, treating them as an extended family of her own.

Marla was born with a rare disease of moyamoya without knowing (or having any symptoms) until the age of 48. At that time, she was diagnosed with this disease and kept under monitoring. There is no cure for this disease. With limited statistical data, it is believed that there are possibilities of long and normal life. Marla was a fighter and true believer in God. She did not accept any sympathy and lived her life to the fullest. A great daughter to her parents, lovely wife, sweet mother, a fun grandmother, and bonded to her brother and her aunt.

She also was as an eclectic collector. She pursued her passion into a hobby, and she had a booth at an antique mall.

A quote from her brother Cary: “Tina (Marla) was a friend to a lot of people; she was a confidant. She had a lot of friends and connected with a lot of cousins and her aunts. She laughed and joked a lot with family and with friends, and yet was kind the glue that kept a lot of the family connected. She made people laugh; she was one who people could unburden themselves to. She was not pretentious, she was who she was, this girl who grew up in a small town in Oklahoma”.

Marla was preceded in death by her parents and oldest brother (Joey). She is survived by her husband Hamlet and sons Nick (Katie), Stefan, and six grandchildren (Marie, Ellie, Rosie, Leo, Jude, and Joanie). She is also survived by her brother Cary Rowan (Pong) and her aunt Betty.