Karen Elaine Rayburn, 64

Sept. 1, 1948, in Cambridge, Ohio, John and Mary Ayres were blessed with the birth of a baby girl. They decided to name her: KAREN ELAINE AYRES. They had their dreams of what this baby girl would do and become. Their dreams were probably far short of all this little baby girl would accomplish.

The family moved to Tulsa, Okla., and Karen attended grade school and graduated from East Central High School. While in high school, Karen became interested in the medical field. She graduated with a certificate as a medical assistant, and went immediately to work for the doctor she had interned with. A couple of years later, she began work at an Internal Medicine office, working the back office as a medical assistant.

During her time in Tulsa she became active in the local Medical Assistants Association. She participated in an association’s Style Show, a program that was moderated by Ray Rayburn, whom she would in later years marry, head of the department of Dale Carnegie Courses at the Oklahoma School of Accountancy, Business and Finance. In 1973 she enrolled in the Dale Carnegie Course in Leadership and Effective Speaking. On Completion of this course, she was selected to become a Graduate Assistant, assisting not only in the Leadership Course, but also the Sales Course, Customer Relations Course, the Personal Development Course and the Management Seminar.

Karen later moved to Phoenix, Ariz., where in March 1981 she married Ray Rayburn. Her professional life included front office for a neurologist in Phoenix, then office manager and back office, when needed, for an oncologist. She and her husband moved to San Francisco where she also worked for an oncologist.

This busy young Christian taught the two-year-old Bible Class at the 10th and Rockford Church of Christ in Tulsa. In Phoenix, she was Youth Director at the Buckeye Church of Christ as well as Youth Director at the Lake Merced Church of Christ in San Francisco. And after moving to North Idaho, she continued to use her talents in working with the Youth at the Church of Christ in Priest River. She also authored articles published in the Christian Bible Teachers publication. While living in the San Francisco/Vacaville area, Karen participated in the formation of the Northern California, Oregon, Washington and Nevada, Leadership Training For Christ, was on the original Board of Directors and served as Registrar during the annual LTC Conventions. She even found time to devote one semester, teaching Conversational English at The International University in Vienna, Austria.

Karen was a member of the Dalton Gardens Church of Christ. It is here that Darcy Ponder and Karen formed a group of ladies devoted to visiting those “nearly forgotten” members who are confined to their homes or in health facilities.

One other accomplishment, she brought delight and happiness by playing Mrs. Claus during the Christmas holidays. This took her to the North Pole, Alaska, four seasons in a row, and then many local organizations and families in the Coeur d’Alene area.

Karen passed away to rest in the arms of Jesus Christ Sunday evening, June 16, 2013. She is survived by her husband, Ray Rayburn: one stepson, Philip Rayburn of Carrywood, plus his wife, Lena and daughter Montana; one stepdaughter, Rhonda Blythe of San Ramon, Calif., plus her husband, Dick and their 10 children; two brothers, Mike Ayres of Catoosa, Okla., and Roger Ayres of Coweta, Okla.; plus nieces and nephews; step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Karen was loved by all who met her for her genuineness and love for the Lord. She will be greatly missed.

Private burial was held at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Gardens. Memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 25, 2013, at the Dalton Gardens Church of Christ. Visit Karen’s online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.