Nowata Star
126 E. Cherokee St.
Nowata, OK 74048
November 29, 2000
Permission for archiving obituaries given by Phillip Reid, Publisher

Funeral services for Lena Maude Johnston, 89, of Nowata who died Wednesday, November 22, 2000 at the Jane Phillips Medical Center in Bartlesville were held Monday, November 27 at the First United Methodist Church in Nowata with the Reverend Rick Thayer officiating. Interment followed at Ball Cemetery near Childers under the direction of Benjamin Funeral Service of Nowata.

Maude was born at Bagnell, Missouri on September 9, 1911 to Creed Lacy and Mary Feeney Uber Vaughan. Her family moved from Missouri to Atoka when she was a child. She grew up in Atoka and received her education there. She and Chester Clarence Johnston, Sr. were married on June 26, 1927 at Atoka. They moved to Nowata in the early 1930s and she spen most of her married life here. She worked at Max Randall's Shirt Factory in Nowata. She also sewed and baby sat as well as helped her husband with his trucking business. Maude was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Nowata. She loved to quilt and was a member of the Methodist Ladies Quilting group. She also loved her grandchildren and gardening.

Survivors include a son: Lary Johnston of Nowata; five daughters: Mary Ann Sorrell and Alwildia Parrish, both of Nowata; Viola Reeder of Stanton, California; Joan Thacker of Inola and Kay Payne of Lebanon, Missouri; a brother: Cecil Vaughan of Antlers and two sisters: Gladys Keller and Velma Hamil, both of Nowata; 22 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren and several great-great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Johnston was preceded in death by her husband, Chester Johnston on September 14, 1974; two sons: Peyton "Pete" Johnston and Chester Clarence "Chet" Johnston and a daughter: Juanita Lois Schwab; four brothers: Ursul, Ray, Howard and Roy Vaughan and a sister, Opal Shouse.