By  Derrick Smith 

When it comes to raising kids, parents have a lot of jobs and responsibilities. Even though being a parent can be difficult at times, it also comes with rewarding moments too. Karla Rayburn says that parents play a big role in the success of their children. 

“I think every parent wants to support their children to set them up for future success,” she said. “Whether they are involved in sports, dance, music, academics, gaming, drama, etc., they all take a huge amount of parental involvement. We all try to provide experiences that are enjoyable, but sometimes they are not. Sometimes you take a tough loss, you get pushed off a team, you get benched, someone cheats, you blow the one thing you’ve practiced a million times, or maybe you just have a bad day. All of these things teach such valuable lessons.”

Rayburn is the proud mother of two daughters, one currently attends Yukon high school and one is a graduate of Yukon. 

“Analise will be a senior this year,” she said. “She plays softball and runs track. Softball is her love and in 2020 she set two schools records: Single season home runs (17) and career home runs. This was exciting for me because she had knee surgery and worked very hard to get back on the field. My other daughter, Kaylee, is 21 years old. She played tennis at Yukon and went to Seminole State on a tennis scholarship.”

On game days, Karla is more than just a proud parent watching their child play ball. She keeps herself busy while in the stands.

“I attend every event and I live stream the softball games,” she stated. “Analise’s grandparents, aunts, and uncles love to see her play, but can’t always get to the games, so I make sure they have the opportunity to at least get a glimpse of her playing. I am the scorekeeper during the games and also try to snap a few photos. I just try to do whatever needs to be done. I just finished my two-year term as treasurer for the high school fastpitch club and will continue to help with scorekeeping, live streaming, concession, gate, photos, senior activities, banquets, and whatever else may come up.”