April 10, 1946 — August 22, 2024
Kathy Risley left our world on August 22, 2024. She had many titles in her life; wife, best friend, Mom, “Mimi” to her granddaughters and “Mrs. Risley” to generations of grade school kids. Hers was a life filled with love and dedicated to the service of children and her community.
Kathy was born in Ft. Dodge, IA to Robert H. (“Bob”) Wise and Mary M. Wise, and grew up in Emporia, KS. She attended Roosevelt High School, where she was the 1964 Homecoming Queen. At Roosevelt, her brother, Mike, befriended Richard Risley, a farm kid from Reading, KS. As Richard spent more time around the Wises, he and Kathy fell in love. They married July 29, 1966 in Emporia, KS and spent the next 58 years together.
Kathy and Richard attended Emporia State University (then Kansas State Teacher’s College).
They had two children; Scott and Angela, before Richard’s job brought the family to Enid, OK in 1976.
In Enid, Kathy was (among many other things) a Cub Scout Den Mother, Bluebirds volunteer and member of Junior Welfare League. (Where she appeared as the “Indian Princess” in the JWL “Follies” show one year, much to her chagrin). As Scott and Angie grew older, Kathy devoted more of her time to the community, serving as Secretary of the Compass Committee at the First United Methodist Church of Enid. Kathy also helped to run the “Mother’s Day Out” daycare program at FUMC.
Kathy met another great love in her life in 1986; Oklahoma State University. She returned to college to finish her degree in Elementary Education as a full-time commuter student. Despite the extra work and weekly travel between Enid and Stillwater, Kathy cared for her family just as she had before. As with everything else Kathy did, she excelled at OSU, graduating in 1988 with top marks, making friends as she went.
That degree from OSU opened the door to a life filled with joy. Kathy began her teaching career at Glenwood Elementary in Enid, OK. Richard’s work took them to Amarillo, TX, from 1992 to 2021. Kathy taught at Oscar Hinger and Crestview Elementary Schools in Canyon, TX. She joined Alice Landergin Elementary in Amarillo, TX. Kathy was an Amarillo ISD Teacher of the Year for 2004-2005.
Richard and Kathy returned to Enid to be closer to their granddaughters after they both retired. However, Kathy never stopped working for kids. In Enid, Kathy joined her daughter, Angie, as an Enid Public Schools teacher. She taught at Coolidge Elementary and Garfield Elementary until her death.
Kathy’s life was devoted to making our world a better place, one kid at a time. She’s survived by hundreds, maybe thousands, of kids she loved and taught over the years. She’s survived by; Richard, her husband and best friend; her son Scott K. Risley (Kai) of Millbrae, CA and Angie (Risley) Owen of Enid, OK. Her greatest treasures, though, were Angie’s daughters, Libby Owen, an OSU sophomore, and Ava Owen, an Enid High School Senior.
The family invites Kathy’s friends, our family and Kathy’s students to a Celebration of her life, to be held in Enid, OK in September. Please watch Richard Risley’s or Angie Owen’s Facebook page for details. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Kathy’s name to the Enid Public School Foundation with Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home serving as custodian of the funds.
Condolences may be made to the family online at www.LadusauEvans.com. Ladusau-Evans has been serving the families of the Enid Community and surrounding areas for over 40 years with compassionate service and dedication. They provide families with an open door policy. Feel free to contact them 24 hours a day. Visitation Hours: 8:00 am – 9:00 pm daily, 2800 N. Van Buren, Enid, OK 73703. Call: (580) 233-1400.
