Wanda Gay Lively began her earthly journey on January 1, 1945, in Duncan, Oklahoma, born to Orion and Marguerite (Isbell) Smith. A third-generation Oklahoman and educator, Wanda graduated from Putnam City High School in 1963, where she was a proud Putnam City Pirates cheerleader. She married her high school sweetheart, Wayne Lively, on July 12 of that same year. Together they built a loving marriage spanning more than sixty-two years, centered on faith, family, friendship, and adventure.

Committed to education and lifelong learning, Wanda earned her bachelor's degree in Education from the University of Central Oklahoma. She devoted 26 years to teaching kindergarten, first grade, and second grade at Hilldale Elementary School, Overholser Elementary School, and Mustang Elementary School. Never tiring of teaching, she served as a substitute teacher for Putnam City and Oklahoma City schools for many years after retirement and was a faithful member of Alpha Zeta Teacher's Sorority since 1984. Known for her patience, kindness, creativity, and encouragement, she touched the lives of countless children and inspired a lifelong love of learning in many of her students.

Faith was the cornerstone of Wanda's life. She was a faithful member of West Point Christian Church for 55 years, where she taught Sunday School for more than 20 years and invested herself in the spiritual formation of generations of children. Her quiet faith, servant's heart, and steadfast commitment to her church family reflected the values by which she lived each day.

Wanda treasured the friendships she cultivated throughout her life. She was a founding member of Xi Zeta Gamma Sorority, where she pledged in 1972 and remained an active member for 49 years. Through the sorority, she helped support scholarship opportunities for young women while building lifelong friendships with fellow members. She also enjoyed participating in sewing and the "Quilt Mafia" group. Wanda created dozens of beautiful quilts that will continue to be treasured by family and friends for generations to come.

Wanda embraced life with enthusiasm and gratitude. She was an avid golfer who enjoyed traveling and playing courses throughout Oklahoma and beyond with Wayne, often using their Oklahoma Golf Passport to discover new places together. She was also an active member of a sailboat club and loved spending time sailing on Lake Thunderbird. Wanda and Wayne shared a passion for travel and explored much of the world together, visiting Italy, France, Germany, Spain, England, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Jamaica, destinations throughout the Caribbean, Hawaii, Alaska, and enjoying many family trips to Branson. Among her favorite adventures was cruising the Blue Danube River through Europe with Wayne. She was also a lover of the arts and music and found joy in beauty, creativity, and culture wherever she traveled.

Wanda was preceded in death by her parents, Orion Smith and Marguerite (Isbell) Smith, and her sister, Myrna "Jean" Kelly.

She is survived by her devoted husband, Wayne Lively; her children, Brent Lively and wife Charda, Darin Lively, and Suzanne McCoy and husband Dean; her grandchildren, Jessica (John) Phillippe, Austin (Shelby) Lively, Chantel Lively, Elijah Lively, Shiloh Lively, Josiah Lively, Ashleigh (Keldon) Anthony, Garrett McCoy, and Shania McCoy; and her great-grandchildren, Henry Phillippe, Hayven Hernandez, Lyla Hernandez, Kolter Anthony, Kasey Anthony, and Lakota Lively. She is also survived by many extended family members, lifelong friends, former students, church family, and fellow travelers whose lives were enriched by her kindness, grace, and generosity.

Wanda's legacy lives on in the students she taught, the faith she shared, the friendships she nurtured, and the family she loved so deeply.

A celebration of Wanda's life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 20, at Mercer-Adams Funeral Service, 3925 N. Asbury Avenue, Bethany, OK 73008. Interment will follow at Resurrection Memorial Cemetery, 7500 W. Britton Road, Oklahoma City, OK 73132.