Mary Elizabeth Powers
Mary Elizabeth Powers was the fifth born of Charles Thomas Powers and Amanda Naomi Kinnison on October 11, 1927.
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Name: Mary Elizabeth Powers
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Spouse: Robert Lee Kraus
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Children: Ronald Eugene Kraus ( ); Stephen Douglas Kraus ( ); Rosa Lee Kraus [adopted] ( )
MARY ELIZABETH POWERS KRAUS
My earliest memory of being born a “Powers” was the day I watched my mother roll up an old cotton mattress, carry it outside to the backyard, pour something all over it, and set it on fire. I didn’t realize, at such a young age, my that old mattress was being burned. The old house on Cleveland Street in Sand Springs, where most of us were born, must have been loaded with bedbugs.
Charles Arthurs, the oldest son, must have been the quiet one, because I don’t remember much about him, other than a vague memory about a school play where he had to carry a rifle. Kenneth Eugene was the active one, particularly the day he saw a rat run through the hose. Heaven only knows where he found dad’s gun, but shortly after that, we had a hole in the floor. The first rat probably escaped the execution. I vaguely remember the day that dad backed the old car out, and guess what was underneath it. Marvin Virgin was laying flat on that sandy driveway. Fortunately there were no injuries. James Welsey (Jim) acquired the nickname “Beans” from the Edwardses, who lived next door. Anytime they asked “what makes you fat?” his reply was “beans.” William Houston (Bill) was the last one born in that old house. He was the vocal one, learning to belt out “Jesus Loves Me” at the top of his voice when he was barely two years old.
The varmints and bedbugs finally forced us to move from our birthplace, I guess. Of course it could have been one of those county commissioners dad worked for, who kept moving us every two years for the next few years. At a very young age I vowed never to get involved in politics.
When Charles Arthur learned there was going to be another baby, he said to mother, “Don’t you think we have enough?” After Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Frankie) was born, Charles came home from school one day and didn’t find the baby in his usual place. He said, “Where’s the baby?” Mama replied, “I thought you said we had enough.” His next words were, “Now that you’ve got him, you might as well keep him.”
After a couple of more moves because of dad’s job changes, we moved to Tulsa, where he worked at the District #3 County Garage. He could repair anything that had four wheels or lugs. Lifting a heavy caterpillar tractor lug was probably the ultimate cause of his death at an early age. I remember that day he became ill like it was yesterday. I remember seeing Dr. J.W. Childs come to our house and seeing the ambulance take my daddy away. That was the last time I saw him alive. We were told of his death the next morning. He had died on the operating table with a ruptured pancreas. Many years later, while I was working in the field of medicine, I questioned the cause of death. My doctor pulled the autopsy record and verified the final cause of death.
We were not aware that mama was pregnant with her eight child at the time. Seven months after my father died, John Byron entered this family. Needless to say, hew was over protected. A little “rear-end psychology” was in order many times, but there too many of us ready to protect him, even the old dog, Pooch.
Years later I mentioned to my mother that I had never seen her cry after dad died, even thought I’m sure she probably did whenever she had a few moments alone. Her reply to me was that she never had time to sit around and cry. She had eight children to raise. Her strong, quiet natured passed down through her Indian heritage and was the greatest legacy she could leave us.
Note added below Mary’s memories: Aunt Mary was an office trained assistant to a proctologist. We heard a lot of stories about this job!
(From Powers Family Book compiled by Georgia Powers Jennings)
My earliest memory of being born a “Powers” was the day I watched my mother roll up an old cotton mattress, carry it outside to the backyard, pour something all over it, and set it on fire. I didn’t realize, at such a young age, my that old mattress was being burned. The old house on Cleveland Street in Sand Springs, where most of us were born, must have been loaded with bedbugs.
Charles Arthurs, the oldest son, must have been the quiet one, because I don’t remember much about him, other than a vague memory about a school play where he had to carry a rifle. Kenneth Eugene was the active one, particularly the day he saw a rat run through the hose. Heaven only knows where he found dad’s gun, but shortly after that, we had a hole in the floor. The first rat probably escaped the execution. I vaguely remember the day that dad backed the old car out, and guess what was underneath it. Marvin Virgin was laying flat on that sandy driveway. Fortunately there were no injuries. James Welsey (Jim) acquired the nickname “Beans” from the Edwardses, who lived next door. Anytime they asked “what makes you fat?” his reply was “beans.” William Houston (Bill) was the last one born in that old house. He was the vocal one, learning to belt out “Jesus Loves Me” at the top of his voice when he was barely two years old.
The varmints and bedbugs finally forced us to move from our birthplace, I guess. Of course it could have been one of those county commissioners dad worked for, who kept moving us every two years for the next few years. At a very young age I vowed never to get involved in politics.
When Charles Arthur learned there was going to be another baby, he said to mother, “Don’t you think we have enough?” After Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Frankie) was born, Charles came home from school one day and didn’t find the baby in his usual place. He said, “Where’s the baby?” Mama replied, “I thought you said we had enough.” His next words were, “Now that you’ve got him, you might as well keep him.”
After a couple of more moves because of dad’s job changes, we moved to Tulsa, where he worked at the District #3 County Garage. He could repair anything that had four wheels or lugs. Lifting a heavy caterpillar tractor lug was probably the ultimate cause of his death at an early age. I remember that day he became ill like it was yesterday. I remember seeing Dr. J.W. Childs come to our house and seeing the ambulance take my daddy away. That was the last time I saw him alive. We were told of his death the next morning. He had died on the operating table with a ruptured pancreas. Many years later, while I was working in the field of medicine, I questioned the cause of death. My doctor pulled the autopsy record and verified the final cause of death.
We were not aware that mama was pregnant with her eight child at the time. Seven months after my father died, John Byron entered this family. Needless to say, hew was over protected. A little “rear-end psychology” was in order many times, but there too many of us ready to protect him, even the old dog, Pooch.
Years later I mentioned to my mother that I had never seen her cry after dad died, even thought I’m sure she probably did whenever she had a few moments alone. Her reply to me was that she never had time to sit around and cry. She had eight children to raise. Her strong, quiet natured passed down through her Indian heritage and was the greatest legacy she could leave us.
Note added below Mary’s memories: Aunt Mary was an office trained assistant to a proctologist. We heard a lot of stories about this job!
(From Powers Family Book compiled by Georgia Powers Jennings)
Mary Elizabeth Obituary:
Mary Elizabeth Kraus (Powers) was the daughter of Charles Thomas Powers and Naomi Amanda Kinnison, she had several brothers and some have proceeded her in death. Her brothers were: Chas Powers, Kenneth Powers, Marvin Powers, James Powers, William Houston Powers, Franklin Roosevelt Powers, and John Byron Powers. Aunt Mary's ancestry included a relative that was among the immortal 12 for the Cherokee nation and followed the "Trail of Tears". Aunt Mary liked to talk and laugh with many friends and was proceeded in death by Robert Lee Kraus her husband. Our sincere sympathy to her family. (Linda Shipp)
Mary Elizabeth Kraus (Powers) was the daughter of Charles Thomas Powers and Naomi Amanda Kinnison, she had several brothers and some have proceeded her in death. Her brothers were: Chas Powers, Kenneth Powers, Marvin Powers, James Powers, William Houston Powers, Franklin Roosevelt Powers, and John Byron Powers. Aunt Mary's ancestry included a relative that was among the immortal 12 for the Cherokee nation and followed the "Trail of Tears". Aunt Mary liked to talk and laugh with many friends and was proceeded in death by Robert Lee Kraus her husband. Our sincere sympathy to her family. (Linda Shipp)
Robert Lee Kraus Obituary:
Robert Lee Kraus, 88 year old resident of Owasso, passed from this life on Thursday, April 2, 2015, at his home. Robert was born April 12, 1926, in Tulsa, OK to Joseph and Anna Mae (Shea) Kraus. He was raised in Tulsa, graduating from Will Rogers High School. He joined the US Navy on June 5, 1944, and was honorably discharged in June of 1946 as a Seaman First Class. On October 14, 1950, he and Mary Elizabeth Powers were united in marriage. Robert worked for Amoco Pipeline Company (now B-P), retiring as Chief Draftsman in the pipeline division. During his working career they lived in Tulsa, moving to Indiana in 1969 and to Denver, Colorado in 1977. They moved to Owasso in 1983. He was a member of the Elkâ™s Lodge BPOE #946 in Tulsa. For a short time in his earlier years, he played semi-pro baseball. Robert spent many happy hours working in his yard and fishing. Those that survive include his wife Mary of the home; children “ Ronald Kraus of Grove, OK, Stephen Kraus of Clever, MO and Rosa Lee Sheets of Sperry, OK. Also surviving are three grandchildren “ Anna, Shelley and Robbie; six great grandchildren Luke, Levi, Laney, Clayton, Quinton and Dan; as well as three great great grandchildren Hayden, Lynn and Cale. Robert was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Floyd and sisters Anna Margaret and Josephine. Robert’s request was for cremation and no formal services to be held. His ashes will be interred in the Memorial Park Cemetery, Tulsa, OK. Arrangements have been entrusted to Mowery Funeral Service of Owasso. www.moweryfs.com '
Robert Lee Kraus, 88 year old resident of Owasso, passed from this life on Thursday, April 2, 2015, at his home. Robert was born April 12, 1926, in Tulsa, OK to Joseph and Anna Mae (Shea) Kraus. He was raised in Tulsa, graduating from Will Rogers High School. He joined the US Navy on June 5, 1944, and was honorably discharged in June of 1946 as a Seaman First Class. On October 14, 1950, he and Mary Elizabeth Powers were united in marriage. Robert worked for Amoco Pipeline Company (now B-P), retiring as Chief Draftsman in the pipeline division. During his working career they lived in Tulsa, moving to Indiana in 1969 and to Denver, Colorado in 1977. They moved to Owasso in 1983. He was a member of the Elkâ™s Lodge BPOE #946 in Tulsa. For a short time in his earlier years, he played semi-pro baseball. Robert spent many happy hours working in his yard and fishing. Those that survive include his wife Mary of the home; children “ Ronald Kraus of Grove, OK, Stephen Kraus of Clever, MO and Rosa Lee Sheets of Sperry, OK. Also surviving are three grandchildren “ Anna, Shelley and Robbie; six great grandchildren Luke, Levi, Laney, Clayton, Quinton and Dan; as well as three great great grandchildren Hayden, Lynn and Cale. Robert was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Floyd and sisters Anna Margaret and Josephine. Robert’s request was for cremation and no formal services to be held. His ashes will be interred in the Memorial Park Cemetery, Tulsa, OK. Arrangements have been entrusted to Mowery Funeral Service of Owasso. www.moweryfs.com '