Karla May Leighton

After many long battles with numerous ailments her body could no longer fight.

She passed peacefully in her sleep surrounded by her family at St John’s Hospital. We played her favorite songs as she drifted away. I know she’ll be dancing and singing in Heaven now.

She was born at St John’s in Santa Monica then moved to Camarillo where she graduated from Camarillo High, then moved to Ventura and lived there for the rest of her life.

Our Mom was a strong woman and touched so many lives. When our Dad left us 1975 she struggled to raise us 3 children, sometimes working 3 jobs, even taking on more children to babysit to make ends meet, while working nights at the 101 Drive-in. Looking back, I don't now how she did it? Then she remarried to a wonderful man, Lee Leighton in 1977 (They had just celebrated their 39th anniversary 6 days prior).

Mom continued to work at E. J. Harrison and Sons for many years, where she had a great friendship with Myron and Sharon Harrison. Than she went on to work for The Arthritis Foundation as the Office Manager for 12 years. That might have been when she was the happiest. She got to work with her long time friend Faye McDonald and she really felt like she was doing important work there. After that she worked for the Ventura Hand Clinic. and also worked for Ventura Orthopedics. She volunteered with The CMH Auxiliary. She attended various churches and when she was younger, she enjoyed playing Bunko with her friends

When she retired in 2004 she found that she was able to have to new life as a singer. She always sang her cute little songs around the house and we all loved it, but we never imagined that someday she would be up on stage performing. She actually became little bit of a local celebrity to the people who loved that genre of music. We were all so proud to watch her get up there and sing in her sweet Betty Boop style. She loved that era of music and came very close to being on the game show “Name That Tune” many years ago. She had won all of the practice rounds but the producers felt she was too quiet, and would have to stand on a box to reach the podium. Little did they know they were passing on a STAR!!

She was the sweetest and most organized person you’ll ever meet. You could be assured if she was in charge of something, it was going to be done perfectly and color coded too!! She literally had an outfit for everyday, especially Holidays, that was an EVENT!! I think some people would look forward to Christmas and Easter just to see what she was going to wear. Most people we’ve talked to, who have met our Mom, talk about how sweet she was and they always mention her outfits and how put together she was. We loved joking with her about it, but boy, we’re going to miss that. We are going to miss sooooo much about her. If there is anything “good” in us, if there is anything that stands out as special, it’s only because of her. She was such a special person and you were very lucky if you ever had the chance to meet her. Our loss is Heaven’s gain.

She is survived by her husband Lee Leighton, Her children: Leighya,Troy and Trent Cotner (wife Jessica), step-children: Randy and Richie Leighton.

Her Grandchildren: Shayne Cotner, Ashely Kumnick , Ethan and Evan Cotner, Emily, Courtney, Sophia and Angel Leighton and Great-grandchildren, Jonah and Jacob Kumnick, her Father Willie Lammers, Sister Rayna Myers and Brother Bird Lammers.

Those who she’ll be seeing in Heaven are: Her son Shayne Donlon Cotner, Her Mother Virgina Lammers, Nana Sabre de Ybarrando, Father-in-law Thomas Cotner, Aunt Dorothy Larson, Aunt Dolores de Ybarrando, Uncle Charles de Ybarrando and of course her many kitties over all the years!!!

A service will be held for her at Charles Carol Mortuary 15 Teloma Drive, Ventura, CA 93003 | 805-642-8134 on February 25th at 2pm

Donations can be made at gofundme.com search for Karla Leighton