Ila Johnson

Funeral service for Ila Fern Johnson will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 21, 2014 at the First Baptist Church of Inola. Pastor Jerry Fielder will officiate. Burial will follow at Olympus Cemetery in Grove under the direction of the Inola Funeral Home & Crematory. Visitation will be held at the funeral home Sun. 1-6 p.m.

Ila passed away Tuesday, July 15, 2014 at the age of 71.

The daughter of Oscar and Jessie Day Caudill was born January 19, 1943 in Grove, Oklahoma. As a young girl she and her family moved to Sand Springs. There she attended school through the seventh grade. They then moved to Grove where she attended Grove schools. While in high school Ila was active in numerous activities. She was voted basketball homecoming queen, and most likely to succeed during her senior year. After graduating in 1961, Ila continued her education at Northeastern State University. It was there during Sadie Hawkins week that she asked Leroy Johnson to the dance. The relationship evolved from there to when they were married June 19, 1964 in Tulsa. At the time Leroy was enlisted in the U.S. Navy so they made their home in Alameda, California. There she began her working career for Pacific Bell Telephone. A few years later lla and Leroy made their way back home to Tulsa. She continued working for the telephone company for a short time, but soon focused entirely on raising her children. In 1968 she and her family moved to Inola. It didn't take her long to become active in the community. She joined First Baptist Church of Inola, and became a Sunday school teacher there for all ages of children. As her children became older she decided to return to work. She took a job for the U.S Post Office, where she worked until retiring in January of 2003. Then became partners with her husband in their construction business. Ila and Leroy just recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

In her spare time Ila enjoyed many things. Such as ministering to others, reading, cooking and gardening. In fact she loved gardening, so much so that she became a master gardener. However her true love was her family. She enjoyed every second she could helping take care of all of them especially her grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her Parents, Oscar and Jessie; son, Brent Johnson; neice, Terry Smith; brother-in-laws, Freddie Bauer, and Bill Hardison, and sister-in-law, Janie Caudill.

Survivors include he husband Leroy of the home; daughter, Gretchen Lofton of Inola; son, David Johnson and wife Rachel of Owasso; daughter-in-law, Marla Johnson of Inola; grandchildren, Hunter Johnson, Christian Johnson, Landon Tucker, Courtney Tucker, Savanna Lofton, Saylor Lofton, Carter Johnson, Addison Johnson and Samuel Johnson; and siblings, June Bauer, Clinton Caudill, Tonice Caudill, Cuma Hardison, Melvin Caudill and wife Sharon and Phyllis James and husband David