Carla Ann Kauppila

Carla Kauppila, affectionately known by her grandchildren as Yaya, passed away peacefully on the morning of Dec. 16th at the age of 77.

Born in Temple on Feb. 29th, 1948, Carla dedicated her life to nurturing others. As an educator at St. Francis Episcopal School, a dedicated mother, beloved neighbor and a cherished Yaya, her warmth and generosity shaped the lives of everyone fortunate enough to know her. Her kindness, humor and unwavering care were constants in a world that so often needs them, and they will continue to nourish all whose lives she touched.

Carla’s love of cooking was more than a hobby—it was her joy. From “playing in the kitchen” to baking delectable treats for friends’ birthdays and special occasions, she found deep fulfillment in creating and sharing delicious food with those she loved. Her kitchen was a place of laughter, stories, community, and inspiration.

She will always be remembered for her 31 years of impacting young lives at St. Francis Episcopal School, her home away from home. The peace, joy and safety families and children felt around her will never be forgotten.

Family was everything to Carla. She was the eldest of 4 siblings who she was close with throughout her life and especially in her final months. She loved any time spent with them, and her nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. That love extended well beyond her biological family to her chosen family of close friends…her childhood friends to her friends from Delta Airlines to Marquette, MI and back to her hometown of Temple, TX. She loved people, learning their stories, and supporting them, which usually meant feeding them and having them to her “drinking table.”

Carla was a familiar and beloved presence on Temple’s north side where she walked daily, undeterred by heat or cold. Through these walks, she formed deep bonds with her neighbors—offering support in moments of distress and sharing in neighborhood joys. And Carla was rarely without one of her cherished black labs. First Mary Grace, and later Maggie, these devoted companions completed her.

She is preceded in death by her parents, James Dean & Helen Georgia Creasey, and is survived by her daughters, Anna Morris and Eva Kauppila and her grandchildren Walter, Jack, George and Dean, as well as her faithful companion, Maggie, her black lab.

A celebration of Carla’s life will be held at her home on Saturday, Jan. 3rd from 1-4pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Carla Kauppila St. Francis School Scholarship Fund in her honor, or that you share a meal with someone you love in Carla’s spirit of generosity.