Mary Jo Rains of Sapulpa Oklahoma passed away on Monday, August 29, 2022.
Mary Jo was born on March 3, 1936 in Vian, Oklahoma to her parents, Fred and Pearl (Ruark) Keown.
She spent her youth in Muskogee, OK and attended the Muskogee schools until her senior year. Even
though she graduated from Pryor High School, she always felt like Muskogee High School was her alma
mater. She stayed in touch with many of her friends from Muskogee High School and attended their
reunions for many years.
She met the love of her life, Johnie Rains, at a dance following a basketball game at Connors State
College in Warner, Oklahoma. Johnie was taken with her instantly and they married six months later on
June 16, 1955 in Tahlequah and just celebrated their 67 th wedding anniversary this past June. Soon after
they married, Johnie enlisted in the United States Army. While stationed in Germany they traveled to
many different countries in Europe, such as England and France and to see the magnificent tulip fields in
Holland. This is where her life-long love of tulips began.
Through all the wonderful experiences during her life, family was the most cherished. She loved to
spend time with her husband and children, which was an endless fountain of love to her. She enjoyed
cooking good, old fashioned comfort food from biscuits and gravy to the Sunday pot roast. For fun, Mary
Jo enjoyed reading, shopping estate sales, and browsing antique shops. During her last years of limited
mobility, her furry friend, Milli gave her great comfort.
After settling in the Sapulpa area, she took a job with the local high school as the registrar. During her
time there, she became fast friends with some of her coworkers. They would often take short trips
together which continued her love of travel. Mary Jo was also an active member of First United
Methodist Church of Sapulpa.
Mary Jo is preceded in passing by both her parents, Fred and Pearl Keown, as well as her sister, Nossie
Summerlin.
Mary Jo leaves behind her sweetheart and husband Johnie, as well as their children John and wife Cathy
Rains, Marla and husband Michael Drake, Jason and wife Shannon Rains, brother Bobby and wife Fran
Keown and many other loving relatives and friends. Mary Jo will be remembered as MeMaw, BeAh, and
Nana by her 8 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM September 1, 2022 at the First United Methodist Church of
Sapulpa, 1401 E Taft Ave in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. Arrangements are entrusted to Schaudt's Glenpool
Funeral Service and Cremation Care, 719 East 141st Street, Glenpool, OK 74033.
Family and friends may leave kind words of comfort, special memories, and condolences to the family
online at www.schaudtfuneralservice.com. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be
made to the First United Methodist Church of Sapulpa Building Fund, which can be found on their
website and by clicking “Online Giving”.
