Carla McCown

Her story

Carla Mullenix McCown, beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully on September 25, 2026, at the age of 64.

Born in Lawton, Oklahoma, on January 17, 1962, to Don and Betty Mullenix, Carla brought warmth, kindness, and love into the lives of everyone around her. She will be remembered for her caring heart, her strength, her generosity, and the special way she made people feel loved and welcomed.

Carla attended Fletcher High School, where she was an accomplished student-athlete and a proud member of the basketball team. Her love of basketball was an important part of her high school years. She was honored to be named both Junior High and High School Basketball Queen, reflecting not only her talent on the court but also the admiration and affection of her classmates and community.

During her high school years, Carla was also selected to attend Girls State in Oklahoma, an experience that reflected her character, leadership, and involvement in her community.

After graduating from Fletcher High School, Carla continued her education at Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma, graduating in 1984. It was during her time at Cameron that Carla met Terry. Their meeting marked the beginning of a love story that would span more than four decades. Carla and Terry were married on July 27, 1985, beginning a life together filled with love, family, memories, and shared experiences.

Carla became a devoted mother when her son, Mason, was born on September 6, 1991, followed by her daughter, Terra, on April 26, 1995. Her children were a source of tremendous love and pride. She treasured being their mother and was happiest when she was surrounded by her family.

What she loved

Carla had a genuine appreciation for the things that made life interesting and fun. She loved music, and she especially enjoyed attending Ian Moore concerts, making memories through the live music she loved. She also had a deep appreciation for art and enjoyed sports of all kinds, carrying with her the enthusiasm for athletics that had been such an important part of her own life.

Above all, Carla cherished her family. She found joy in the time she spent with the people she loved and created memories that will remain treasured by her family and friends. Her love, laughter, and presence will be deeply missed, but the impact she made on those who knew her will live on.

Carla leaves behind a legacy of love that will continue through her family and all those whose lives she touched. She will be remembered not only for the years she shared with us, but for the love, laughter, friendship, and memories she gave so freely.

Carla’s Journey: A Tribute to Strength and Grace

Carla’s cancer journey began in June of 2021, when she noticed a subtle change in the peripheral vision of her right eye. A routine exam revealed a detached retina, leading her to see a retina specialist that very afternoon. Detecting a small mass, the specialist immediately referred her to Dr. Timothy Fuller, a leading ophthalmologist in ocular cancers. Dr. Fuller explained that the tumor was an ocular melanoma and presented several paths forward. After seeking second opinions, Carla made the incredibly difficult decision to have her right eye removed. Just three weeks to the day from her initial diagnosis, she underwent surgery for enucleation.

Following the surgery, Carla underwent DNA screening and a series of full-body scans to determine if the cancer had spread. Thankfully, the results were clear. For the next three years, her regular scans remained entirely clean. It was a massive relief, and we truly began to put cancer behind us. We looked forward to the three-year mark, knowing it was a major milestone—statistically, if ocular melanoma does not metastasize within three years, the future outlook improves significantly.

Unfortunately, that milestone scan revealed three to four small spots on her liver, and a subsequent biopsy confirmed the cancer was malignant. Ready to fight, Carla underwent a Y-90 radioembolization treatment, which delivers microscopic beads directly to the liver to target and destroy the tumors. She also began immunotherapy. For about two years, these treatments worked wonderfully to keep the disease at bay.

Ocular melanoma, however, is a relentless and aggressive disease. Eventually, the cancer began to spread, moving first into her lungs and lymph nodes. Carla transitioned to chemotherapy with the same quiet determination and resilience that had defined her entire journey, which once again granted her family more cherished moments together.

However, the medicine eventually outpaced its effectiveness. Recognizing that her time was invaluable, Carla made the deeply courageous decision to step away from the grueling cycle of clinical interventions. It was a final, profound act of grace and agency—refusing to let her remaining days be dictated by the toll of treatments, and choosing instead to prioritize her comfort, dignity, and quality of life through hospice care. This choice brought a deep sense of calm to her final weeks, shifting the focus entirely away from fighting an illness and toward celebrating a life beautifully lived. Her final days were transformed into a sacred time of quiet conversations, shared memories, and an abundance of love. On September 25th, Carla passed away peacefully, wrapped in the gentle embrace and deep devotion of the family who meant everything to her. While the cancer may have claimed her physical sight, it never dimmed her vibrant spirit, which now lives on vividly in the hearts of everyone she loved.

Written by her son, Mason.

Her family

She is survived by her parents, Don and Betty Mullenix of Fletcher; her brother, Kirk Mullenix and his wife, Val, of Cache, Oklahoma; her husband of 41 years, Terry McCown, of the home; her son, Mason McCown and his wife, Robin, of Keller, Texas; her daughter, Terra McCown of Irving, Texas; and her loving family and many friends who will forever hold her in their hearts.

Services

Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 1, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Fletcher Funeral Home, 410 W. Cole Ave., Fletcher, Oklahoma.

A funeral service celebrating Carla's life will be held on Friday, October 2, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Fletcher Methodist Church, 307 Martin St., Fletcher, Oklahoma. Interment will follow at Fletcher Cemetery.

A memorial celebration will be held on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Dalton & Son Funeral Home, 1550 North Stemmons Freeway, Lewisville, Texas.

Family and friends are invited to join together at these gatherings to remember Carla, celebrate her life, and share the memories she leaves behind.

Forever loved, forever missed, and forever in our hearts.