Loraine Elizabeth Evans

Loraine Elizabeth Johnson Evans was born in Wanette, OK on September 18, 1920 to Booty P. Johnson and Elizabeth Renfro Johnson. Loraine entered eternal rest Wednesday, September 12, 2018, at Arbor Springs in West Des Moines, Iowa, at the age of ninety-seven years.
Loraine grew up on the family farm and was the ninth of eleven children. She graduated from Wanette High School, Wanette, OK with the Class of 1940.
Loraine met her future husband, Steve A. Evans, at Fort Sill in Oklahoma while she was working as a telephone operator on the base and he was in Officer Candidate School. They dated until Steve was deployed to Europe in 1943. While overseas Steve carried a note from Loraine that he kept in his wallet as a promise to return home to her. When Steve returned from World War II in 1946 they were married and moved to Maryville, MO where Steve attended Northwest Missouri University and Loraine worked in a bow and arrow factory. Upon graduation they moved to Ames where Steve attended Iowa State University and Loraine worked at a local drugstore. After graduation from ISU they moved to Clarinda, IA where Steve taught Vocational Agriculture and Loraine was a stay at home mom to their daughter Sharon who was born in 1949. In 1953 the family moved to Osceola, IA where Steve was the Clarke County Extension Director. While living in Osceola Loraine developed her sales talents when she became associated with Avon Cosmetics. This proved to be a lasting love as Loraine worked for Avon for 51 years. In 1965 they moved to Creston, IA where Steve was the Union County Extension Director and Loraine continued to sell Avon. Loraine lived in Creston until 2013 when she moved to West Des Moines, IA to be closer to her family.
Loraine was active in civic activities throughout her life and was involved in 4-H leadership and the Greater Community Hospital Auxiliary. She also enjoyed couple’s bridge club and women’s bridge club when she lived in Osceola and Creston. Recently she enjoyed bingo and beanbag baseball at Bickford of West Des Moines. Loraine was a woman of great faith, serving the church in the Altar Society. Loraine enjoyed her travels to London, England, Paris, France and throughout the United States, especially Sarasota, FL and Sanibel Island, FL. She loved spending time with her family, especially her great-granddaughters Elizabeth and Catherine. She will be missed greatly by all who knew and loved her.
Loraine is survived by her daughter, Sharon Evans Brindle of Waukee, IA; two granddaughters: Susan (Lori) Brindle of Waukee, IA and Jennifer (Daniel) Brindle-Rothman of West Des Moines, IA; and two great-granddaughters: Elizabeth Rothman and Catherine Rothman, numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.
Loraine is predeceased in death by her husband Steve in 1994, her parents and her ten siblings, brothers: Otto, Otis, DD, Buford, Lennis, John and Gerald Johnson and her sisters: Helen Campbell, Jane Puleo and Lennie Hall.