Obituary for Mary Jennings

Mary L Jennings

(May 16, 1936 – October 16, 2016)

Mary Lou “Kraus” Jennings, passed away October 16, 2016, in Blackwell, OK at the Hillcrest Manor. She was 80. A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at Odd Fellows Cemetery at 10:00 am. There will be no viewing per her request.

Born May 16, 1936 to Simon & Mary (Giesen) Kraus. Born & raised in Caldwell, Kansas during the hottest summer on record. Still holds some records! Got her 1st haircut as an infant. By age 8, she was working at local cafes busing tables & washing dishes. She was thrilled when she was old enough to get out on the floor to wait tables so she could visit with people. She loved hearing where people came from, where they had been, what they did for a living, etc.

She had 2 older brothers, Bud & Alfred, that were 18 & 19 when she was born. Needless to say, she was raised as an “only child” and was a “Daddy’s girl.” She talked about how her dad would carry her on his shoulders because they didn’t own a car & had to walk everywhere. Her mother reminded him that he “Never did that with the boys.” But he didn’t put her down! She, in her words, “worshiped the ground her daddy walked on!”

When she was 15, she & her cousin, Flora Ann went to Wichita to visit relatives & go to a dance. Before the dance, they walked around downtown Wichita & stopped to look in the window at Zale’s Jewelry Store. A young man from Missouri happened to be looking in the same window at the same time. His name was Gene Jennings. Her life would never be the same! When she was 16, and he was 18, Mary Lou and Gene were married in Harrison, Arkansas. They would have been married 64 years November 5.

They lived in Springfield, Missouri & in Caldwell, Kansas before moving to Blackwell, Oklahoma. In 1955, they lost everything they owned in the tornado that hit Blackwell. In 1960, Mary Lou & Gene moved to Ponca City. Mary Lou said she remembered looking out the front window of her new home thinking “What have I got myself into?” She loved Blackwell. But soon, she started working at Buck Rowe’s Drug Store & Ponca City quickly became her new home. In 1967, THEIR lives would never be the same! They were happy to have a new daughter, Kristina, in their home. Mary Lou absolutely LOVED her role as a Mother. She was always was the “homeroom” mom & attended all homeroom parties, fieldtrips, concerts & took great pride & joy in raising Kristi.

Mary Lou worked several odd jobs for extra money here & there. She found a job that she “loved as much the 1st day as she did the last.” She drove a school bus for 33 years & rode as an assistant her last year of employment with Ponca City Schools. She loved Bus 8! Health issues forced her to retire in January, 2016. She also worked with her husband Gene at Jennings Auto Service. Everyone knew Mary Lou at the parts stores. She once again, loved to visit with everyone that worked at the parts stores & customers that came in to get their cars fixed.

In 1986, Mary Lou & Gene were blessed with their 1st Grandson, Scott. Scott was the apple of his Grandma’s eye! She doted on him something fierce. And he returned the love! 1994 brought a blessing of a 2nd Grandson, Trevor. And the love began anew! She said “love” didn’t come close to describing how she felt about her Grandsons! She was blessed enough to see 2 Great Granddaughters, Josie Rose & Harper Lily, be born into the family also. She was a loyal friend and loved to spend time with her family and was an avid bingo player with many stories to tell.

Mary Lou is survived by her husband Gene, of the home, daughter Kristi & husband Joe DeNoya, of Ponca City, grandson Scott & wife Jessica Oatman, of Austin, Texas, grandson Trevor Craft & fiancee Ashley O’Hara of Ponca City and great granddaughters Josie & Harper Oatman of Austin, Texas, and grandson Jeremy DeNoya of Ponca City.

Mary Lou was preceded in death by her parents, Mary and Simon Kraus and brothers, James “Bud”Kraus & Alfred Kraus.

In lieu of flowers, family would like memorials to be made in her name to American Diabetes Association or Alzheimer’s Association care of Trout Funeral Home and Crematory, 505 W. Grand Ave, Ponca City Ok 74601.

Source: Trout Funeral Home