Sarah Katherine Leister Bridges passed away on Sunday August 16, 2026. She was born May 3, 1931, in Taylor, Mississippi to Leroy Bismark Leister and Willie Lucille Crisp Leister. She was one of six children. Along with her family, Sarah moved to Lawton, Oklahoma when she was approximately five years old, and her parents opened Leister Music Company. She was raised in a close-knit family with a deep appreciation for music and the arts. Music, the arts, and a thirst for knowledge were an important part of Sarah's life, fundamental to Sarah's upbringing, and the foundation for why Sarah was an accomplished musician and had a remarkable career as an educator.

During her senior year at Lawton High School, Sarah met the love of her life, Kenneth Owen Bridges. He saw her at a football game in 1948 and thought that she was the prettiest girl he had ever seen. After graduating in 1949, they both attended Cameron Junior College for 2 years. When Kenneth earned a basketball scholarship at Louisiana State University, Sarah remained in Lawton, where she worked for the Civil Service for a year in the hopes of saving up enough money to join Kenneth in Baton Rouge at LSU. Sarah enrolled at LSU in the fall of 1952. Shortly after her arrival, she earned her own scholarship in music. Sarah was a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society whose membership is limited to the top 10% percent of college seniors and nominated for Mortar Board.

Sarah and Kenneth married on September 5, 1953, and immediately returned to LSU. After Kenneth graduated in December 1953, he joined the US Army. Sarah joined Kenneth at Fort Lewis, Washington after completing her Bachelor's Degree in Music Education in August 1954. While living in Tacoma, they welcomed their first child, Keith Owen Bridges in 1955.

After Kenneth was honorably discharged in 1956, Sarah and Kenneth returned to LSU so that Kenneth could complete his Master's Degree. After graduating, Sarah and Kenneth settled in Lawton.

Sarah's first job as a vocal music teacher was at Roosevelt Elementary School, but after one year, Sarah quickly learned that her talents were best utilized by teaching older students with more mature voices and thus became the music teacher at Central Junior High. Then, in 1962, Sarah helped open Eisenhower High School. She not only picked the school colors but helped write Eisenhower's fight song and alma mater. Sarah took a few years off to focus on family and community service. In 1969, Sarah and Kennth welcomed their second child, Elizabeth Klileen Bridges Hall.

However, Sarah's heart was always at her alma mater and thus jumped at the chance to become the Choral Director at Lawton High School. This is when Sarah's musical talents really shone. During her tenure at Lawton High, Sarah co-directed 3 musicals including "Fiddler on the Roof," "The Sound of Music" which was the first high school production in the United States, and "The Music Man." Sarah's choirs consistently earned superior ratings at state vocal contests, and many students were selected to Oklahoma Honor Choir. Sarah was a mentor who encouraged young people to discover their abilities and excel in music and beyond.

Sarah also served on the State Board of American Choral Directors, organized the first junior and senior high school District Honor Choir in Oklahoma, and was either the chairman or assisted with running many district, regional, and All State high school competitions.

Sarah loved to read and learn which led to her completing her Master's Degree in Counseling in 1978. She then became a counselor at Lawton High School and served students in that capacity. She was honored by Westpoint Military Academy for being the counselor who sent the most students to Westpoint in one year. She retired from the Lawton Public Schools in 1992 after 34 years of teaching and service.

Throughout her life, Sarah was a passionate supporter of the arts and believed strongly in community service. She belonged to the Lawton Philharmonic Orchestra, the Lawton Philharmonic Women's Association, was a charter member of the Lawton-Cameron Philharmonic Orchestra Choir, Southwest Oklahoma Opera Guild where she was President in 2001, the Lawton Community Theatre, Quest Club, the Shakespeare Club, PEO, and in her younger years in Junior Service League. She was a staunch supporter of Arts for All.

Sarah was a lifelong member of Centenary United Methodist Church joining in 1946. Not only did she sing in the Chancel Choir for more than 70 years, but she also served as worship chairman and sat on the Board of Trustees. She also resurrected Centenary's Bell Choir in 2003 and served as its Director for 13 years.

Sarah had many hobbies in addition to her love of music and reading. Anyone who knew Sarah knew about her love of dogs. Sarah also loved to dance and, in fact, she and Kenneth belonged to two Lawton dance clubs. She also loved to snow ski despite her lack of athleticism. However, her lack of athleticism did not keep Sarah from rooting for her beloved Lawton High Wolverines and LSU Tigers!

It is remarkable that Sarah married her high school sweetheart with whom she was married for nearly 73 years. She is survived by her husband Kenneth Owen Bridges of Lawton, Keith Owen Bridges and friend Crysti Brierton of Lawton, and her daughter, Elizabeth Klileen and her husband Scott Robert Hall of Tulsa. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and friends, and her beloved dog Chloe. She was predeceased in death by her parents and 5 siblings, Doris Leister Harveland, Klileen Leister Jones, Dorothy Lucille Leister Gaither, David Leroy Leister, and Arthur Curtis Edward Leister.

The Bridges family would like to thank the staff at McMahon Tomlinson Nursing Center, especially the Red Team, for the many years of care, devotion, and service to our mother. A Memorial and Celebration of Sarah's Life will take place at Centenary United Methodist Church on September 3, 2026, at 2:00 followed by a reception at the Lawton Country Club. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Great Plains Technology Center Foundation, Bridges Family Trust.

An online guest book and sympathy cards are available at www.beckerfuneral.com