Juanita Franklin Johnson McClure

April 28, 2008 10:05 pm

— Juanita Franklin Johnson McClure departed this life on Friday, April 25, 2008, in Yukon, OK. She was born in Stidham, OK, November 10, 1918, to James Edward and Laura (Sullivan) Franklin. The family lived in Bay City, OR from 1923 to 1928 when they moved to Council Hill, OK. Juanita (Nita) graduated Valedictorian of Council Hill (OK) High School in 1936. She attended Bacone College, Northeastern State Teachers College (NEOSU), and graduated from East Central State University. She obtained her Masters Degree from NEOSU and did further graduate work at Texas Womens University and North Texas State University. She taught elementary school at Tony Goetz in Muskogee and she also taught elementary at Fort Gibson School, teaching for 34 years in Oklahoma and Texas. She was a member of the Yukon First Baptist Church and former member of Delta Kappa Gamma and Kappa Kappa Iota. She was a Sunday school teacher and a church pianist for many years. She was a hospital volunteer for many years after her retirement from teaching. She was very proud of her family and loved being around her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers James and Earl Franklin, and husbands Frank Johnson and Bondie McClure. Survivors include her children Ann (E. C.)Wegener, Minco; Jeannie (Roger) Kiefling, Lakewood, IL; Frank (Mary Jo) Johnson, Raleigh, NC; grandchildren Laura (Greg) Tontz, Goldsby; Chris (April) Wegener, Broken Arrow; Lane (Kate) Kiefling, Nashville, TN; Rebekah (Bryan) Backowski, St. Louis, MO; Jeff Johnson, Virginia Beach, VA; and Sarah (Bradley) Macey, Raleigh, NC. She is also survived by her great grandchildren Ellis, Jeremiah, and Scarlett Tontz, Cade and Raigen Wegener, Justin and Jacob Lane Backowski, and Carter Davis Macey. She is also survived by stepsons Billy (Pam) McClure, Midland, TX and Justin McClure, Denton, TX and step grandchildren Kimberlee (Ben) Jones, Euless, TX; Ashlee McClure, Seattle, WA, Stephen McClure, Midland, TX; Lindsey (Charlie) Goin; Aubrey, TX; and Casey McClure, Denton, TX.
The family would like to thank the staff at Spanish Cove Retirement Community, Yukon, for the excellent care she received there. The family will receive visitors from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Smith-Turner Funeral Home, Yukon on Sunday, April 27. Graveside services were held Monday, April 28 at 11:00 a.m. at the Council Hill, OK Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials may be given to The Little Light House, 5120 East 36th Street S., Tulsa, OK 74135-5228. Friends may sign our online guestbook at www.smith-turnermortuary.com. Services are under the direction of Smith & Turner Mortuary, Yukon, OK.