Obituary for Lila Virginia Johns
Lila Virginia Johns, age 100, formerly of Headrick, Oklahoma, passed away Monday, February 16, 2008, at Plantation Village Nursing Center in Altus.
Lila was born on September 19, 1908, to William R. Dennis and Nettie A. (Wallis) Dennis near the old community of Navajoe, Oklahoma. She attended public schools through the fourth grade and married William (Bill) E. Johns on January 18, 1926. As was the custom then, Bill went to her father to ask permission for the marriage. Mr. Dennis was milking the cows at the time Bill walked up. Bill said, "Mr. Dennis, Lila and I would like to get married." Mr. Dennis replied "Don "t you think she is a little young?" Undoubtedly nervous and not thinking too quickly, Bill answered, "We don"t plan to get married for two weeks."
The marriage lasted until Bill"s death on February 8, 1986, and produced six children, one of whom died at the age of five months. All of their married life was spent in Jackson County, Oklahoma. Bill and Lila were farmers in the early years and managed to survive the depression and dust bowl days through hard work and frugality. Up to the time of her death, Lila had a difficult time discarding anything that she thought could be of use to anyone.
Lila was a very sentimental person who spent much of her time reliving days of old and people she had known and loved over the many years. Until recent years, her long-term memory was excellent and was still pretty good for her age. Her short-term memory suffered considerably, however. Lila had been remarkably free of medical problems. Her most serious medical difficulty came after the third child was born. She was diagnosed as severely anemic and raw liver was prescribed as a remedy. The third child was the one who died at the age of five months. The baby was taken to Oklahoma City for treatment. Money was so short in those days that Lila and Bill could not accompany the baby to Oklahoma City, and the baby died without their presence.
Lila moved to Tipton, Oklahoma, in 1998 to be near three of her offspring. Even though it was a logical move, she felt as if she was deserting her long time town of Headrick. It took several years for her to reconcile the move. She was living alone next door to one of her sons until her health necessitated the move to Plantation Village Nursing Center a few weeks ago.
She is survived by five children, Glenn Ray Johns and wife Vera of Newton, Kansas, Norman Lafayette Johns, Joe Lynn Johns and wife Margaret, Nita Zane Barker and husband Duane, and William Frederick "Bill" Johns and wife Sharon, all of Tipton, Oklahoma; one sister, Jean Sears of Garland, Texas; ten grandchildren, Diana Schmidt and husband Larry, Cheryl Reichert and husband Dennis, Rebecca Grantham and husband Mike, Michael Johns, Rhoda McDonald, Rachel Bruhn and husband Bill, Rebekah Letterman and husband Kurtis, Greg Johns, Doug Johns and wife Gigi, and Laura Johns; twenty-two great-grandchildren, three great-great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Lila was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bill, an infant daughter, Nettie Francis Johns, three sisters, three brothers, and one grandson, Stevan Johns.
The family will receive friends at Lowell-Tims Funeral Home on Wednesday, February 18, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Funeral Services will be held 2:00 p.m. Thursday, February 19, at the First Baptist Church in Headrick with Reverend Dan Lambert and Reverend Harold Gaches officiating. Interment will follow at the Navajoe Cemetery under the direction of Lowell-Tims Funeral Home.
On line tributes may be made to the family at www.Lowell-Tims.com
02/18/2009
6:30 PM
7:30 PM
Visitation
Lowell-Tims Chapel
02/19/2009
2:00 PM
Funeral
First Baptist Church Headrick
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Lila was born on September 19, 1908, to William R. Dennis and Nettie A. (Wallis) Dennis near the old community of Navajoe, Oklahoma. She attended public schools through the fourth grade and married William (Bill) E. Johns on January 18, 1926. As was the custom then, Bill went to her father to ask permission for the marriage. Mr. Dennis was milking the cows at the time Bill walked up. Bill said, "Mr. Dennis, Lila and I would like to get married." Mr. Dennis replied "Don "t you think she is a little young?" Undoubtedly nervous and not thinking too quickly, Bill answered, "We don"t plan to get married for two weeks."
The marriage lasted until Bill"s death on February 8, 1986, and produced six children, one of whom died at the age of five months. All of their married life was spent in Jackson County, Oklahoma. Bill and Lila were farmers in the early years and managed to survive the depression and dust bowl days through hard work and frugality. Up to the time of her death, Lila had a difficult time discarding anything that she thought could be of use to anyone.
Lila was a very sentimental person who spent much of her time reliving days of old and people she had known and loved over the many years. Until recent years, her long-term memory was excellent and was still pretty good for her age. Her short-term memory suffered considerably, however. Lila had been remarkably free of medical problems. Her most serious medical difficulty came after the third child was born. She was diagnosed as severely anemic and raw liver was prescribed as a remedy. The third child was the one who died at the age of five months. The baby was taken to Oklahoma City for treatment. Money was so short in those days that Lila and Bill could not accompany the baby to Oklahoma City, and the baby died without their presence.
Lila moved to Tipton, Oklahoma, in 1998 to be near three of her offspring. Even though it was a logical move, she felt as if she was deserting her long time town of Headrick. It took several years for her to reconcile the move. She was living alone next door to one of her sons until her health necessitated the move to Plantation Village Nursing Center a few weeks ago.
She is survived by five children, Glenn Ray Johns and wife Vera of Newton, Kansas, Norman Lafayette Johns, Joe Lynn Johns and wife Margaret, Nita Zane Barker and husband Duane, and William Frederick "Bill" Johns and wife Sharon, all of Tipton, Oklahoma; one sister, Jean Sears of Garland, Texas; ten grandchildren, Diana Schmidt and husband Larry, Cheryl Reichert and husband Dennis, Rebecca Grantham and husband Mike, Michael Johns, Rhoda McDonald, Rachel Bruhn and husband Bill, Rebekah Letterman and husband Kurtis, Greg Johns, Doug Johns and wife Gigi, and Laura Johns; twenty-two great-grandchildren, three great-great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Lila was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bill, an infant daughter, Nettie Francis Johns, three sisters, three brothers, and one grandson, Stevan Johns.
The family will receive friends at Lowell-Tims Funeral Home on Wednesday, February 18, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Funeral Services will be held 2:00 p.m. Thursday, February 19, at the First Baptist Church in Headrick with Reverend Dan Lambert and Reverend Harold Gaches officiating. Interment will follow at the Navajoe Cemetery under the direction of Lowell-Tims Funeral Home.
On line tributes may be made to the family at www.Lowell-Tims.com
02/18/2009
6:30 PM
7:30 PM
Visitation
Lowell-Tims Chapel
02/19/2009
2:00 PM
Funeral
First Baptist Church Headrick
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