Lela Ann [Rauch] Johns

Lela Ann [Rauch] Johns

Lela Ann Johns, 89, of Duncan died Monday, June 16, 2003, in Duncan.

Service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Don Grantham Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jerry Black and the Rev. Roland Earsom officiating. Burial will be in Duncan City Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Lela Rauch was born Aug. 12, 1913, on the farm northwest of Duncan where her father, C.M. Rauch, had settled before statehood in 1907.

Growing up on the farm, Lela did many chores to help the family make a living. Her mother, Birdie Lowry Rauch, had large flocks of turkeys which required much attention. Lela and her two brothers, Otto and Elmer, had to try to keep the coyotes away from them when they were out on the open range.

Lela attended Somerdale School for the first eight years of her education. During her high school years she stayed in Duncan during the week in order to attend Duncan Senior High School. After her graduation in 1931, she attended Cameron College in Lawton and Oklahoma College for Women in Chickasha, earning a bachelor's degree and a teaching certificate.

She taught for a total of 11 years at two different country schools. The first was Owens Prairie, which was a two-room school; and she taught grades first through fourth. The she taught grades first through eighth at Fairland, a one-room schoolhouse.

She married Elven Johns in 1945, and made her home with him on a farm in Cotton County until 1960. While there, she raised chickens and sold the eggs, worked with garden produce, and did all things in general that a busy farm wife does.

Lela became a devoted mother when their daughter, Anita, was born. The family moved to Duncan in 1960. Lela became a housewife, taking an active interest in her daughter through all of her school years, and caring for her aging parents.

When she retired she kept up with current events by reading her Duncan Banner Staff daily, and still took a loving interest in her family and the West Side Christian Church, of which she was a member.

Survivors include her husband, Elven, of the home; a daughter, Anita Johns of Duncan; a brother, O.L. Rauch of Enid; six cousins, June Barrington, Shirley Alexander, Linnard Carson, Douglas Carson, Mike Lowry and Kenneth McDaniel; a nephew, Kenneth Rauch; four nieces, Jeanette Pollock, Mary Ellen Kahlden, Beverly Lively and Mary Rauch; a sister-in-law, Wanda Marker; and two special home health care givers, Betty Alexander and Betty Gleghorn.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Elmer C. Rauch.

Bearers will be Kenneth Rauch, Clinton Cole, Bob Pollock, Marvin Kahlden, Mel Lively and Jim Hunt.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to West Side Christian Church.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Parkinson Disease Association, 1250 Hylan Blvd., Suite 4B, Staton Island, NY 10305-1946.