For nearly three decades, Karen Sanders has been the steady presence at the Sayre Senior Citizens Center. Her work has never been flashy, but it has been essential: hot meals served daily, bingo and puzzles around the tables, home-delivered lunches carried with a smile. For so many in Sayre, Karen has been the person who makes the center feel less like a building and more like a home.
On Wednesday, August 29, that service was recognized in a way Sanders never expected. At a surprise ceremony, the facility was officially renamed the Karen Sanders Senior Citizen Center, honoring her 28 years of dedication.
“I was overwhelmed,” Sanders said after the unveiling. She thanked everyone who came out for the reveal, calling it a moment she will never forget.
The Senior Center also extended thanks to Puckett’s Grocery in Sayre for its Roundup donation program. For several weeks, customers had the option to round their purchases up at the register to benefit the center. The program was very successful, and anyone who shopped at Puckett’s and chose to round up directly helped support the Senior Center.
A NAME LONG OVERDUE Sanders began her journey at the center 28 years ago, when it was still located on East Main — now the site of the bail bonds building next to the courthouse. “We used to have dances at the old building,” she recalled in an earlier interview, remembering the music and laughter that filled the hall.
Two decades ago, she oversaw the transition to the current Route 66 location. Since then, she’s guided the center through good days and hard ones, always anchored by the same mission: serving Sayre’s seniors with dignity, joy, and care.
Her dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed by those who gather there. One regular once said simply, “Karen is an incredibly good cook — the food is fantastic.” Another remarked, “Honestly, in a town this small, you’d think we’d see each other all the time. But sometimes, this is the only place you cross paths with old friends.”
Those memories, paired with her steady leadership, made the renaming feel not just right — but long overdue.
A BEACON IN PROGRESS The dedication came with another milestone. A new LED sign now stands tall outside the center, bearing Sanders’ name. Though the wiring isn’t fully connected yet, the sign will soon light up the busy Route 66 corridor.
And even before the switch is flipped, the message is already clear: Karen Sanders’ name shines bright, whether the power is on or not.
GROWING FOR THE FUTURE
The celebration also marked the launch of the new garden project. With raised beds designed for comfort and accessibility, the garden will provide fresh vegetables, herbs, and flowers — even a pumpkin patch if all goes as planned.
As Sanders explained when the idea was first announced, “We wanted something folks could enjoy without having to get down on their knees.” It’s a project that reflects her same commitment: practical, thoughtful, and meant to make life a little easier.
HONORING A LIFE OF SERVICE
For Karen Sanders, the dedication wasn’t about recognition so much as the people she has served. Day after day, year after year, she has kept the doors open, the coffee hot, and the conversations flowing. The newly named Karen Sanders Senior Citizen Center now stands as a visible tribute to that legacy.
On Route 66, the sign will soon glow. Inside the walls, laughter and meals will continue. And in the garden out back, seeds are being planted that will carry her spirit forward.
It is, at last, the kind of recognition a life of service deserves.
Editor’s Note: The senior meal program is administered locally by the Southwest Oklahoma Community Action Group (SOCAG), under the umbrella of SWODA’s Area Agency on Aging.
