Lois Kraus

Lois Kraus, 81, died Feb. 28, 2011, at St. Mary's Regional Medical Center, in Enid, Okla. She was born Jan. 7, 1930, near Montevallo, Mo., to E.A. "Duke" and Flossie Rider Fletcher. Due to the death of her mother at the age of 4 months, she was loved and cared for by Amy J. Harkreader of Bronaugh, Mo. She attended grade and high school, graduating with the class of 1948 at Bronaugh, Mo. She was bookkeeper for the Missouri Farmer Association Co-op in Bronaugh. On Dec. 22, 1950, she was married to Tom Kraus Sr., in Nevada, Mo., and moved to the Gore/Hawley area to live. She taught Sunday school classes at Bethel-Hawley Baptist Church for a number of years, and was secretary of Riverdale Grange and a charter member of Friendly Group Club.

She was preceded in death by her parents; foster mother, Amy Harkreader; husband, T.E. Kraus; and two stepbrothers.

Survivors are sons, Tom Kraus Jr. and his wife, Mary, of Pond Creek, Okla., Jerry Kraus and his wife, Masako, of Yigo, Guam, and Randy Kraus and his wife, Regina, of Medford, Okla.; daughter, Cindy Smith and husband, Chuck, of Medford, Okla.; sisters, Betty Sheehy of Nevada, Mo., Katherine Murray of Hume, Mo., Barbara Fitzgerald, Kansas City, Mo., Beverly Fletcher, Richards, Mo., and Hattie Shaw, Bronaugh, Mo; 11 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m., Saturday, March 5, at Bethel-Hawley Baptist Church. Interment will be in Hawley Cemetery with the Rev. Gary Lillie officiating.

Memorials may be made to Bethel-Hawley Baptist Church, Hawley Rural Fire Department, Hawley Cemetery or charity of donor's choice.

Arrangements are made by Wilson Funeral Home, Pond Creek, Okla.