1921
Frances
2011
Frances Johnson
November 14, 1921 — August 13, 2011
The funeral service for Frances L Johnson, age 89 will be held Thursday, August 18, 2011 at 1:00 pm at the Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home Chapel. Rev Michael Frisbie will officiate. Burial will be in the Bethel Cemetery, Fairview, OK. Arrangements are under the direction of Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home.
Frances, The Rock Lady, was born November 14, 1921 in Fairview, OK, the oldest child of Clara Melissa Woods Crawford and Earl David Crawford. In 1938 she graduated from high school in Longdale, OK at the age of 16. She continued her education in the 1960’s when she received her AA degree from Northwestern State University in Home Economics and Industrial Arts.
In March of 1940 a young sailor named Harley Clark Vickers stole her heart and they married April 19, 1940. Navy life meant many relocations, from California to Illinois to Virginia. She and Harley had four children: Sandra Gayle Muckinhaupt, Santa Rosa, CA; (Jerald) Craig Vickers, Enid, OK; Janyce Myrna Vickers, the Andes of Peru, South America; and Denise Michelle Kramer, of Petaluma, CA. After Harley retired from the Navy in 1956, he and Frances returned to Oklahoma. They settled in Enid in 1963.
Frances excelled in all that she did. She became the number one salesperson in Avon in Illinois. She taught kindergarten in Virginia. She led Brownie, Girl Scout and Cub Scout troops. She was president of the PTA. She began writing in the 1960’s and had articles published in the National Gem & Mineral Society magazine and other publications. She was also a reporter for the Enid Morning News. She was invited to be a member of the American League of Pen Women and served as an officer of the Oklahoma League of Pen Women.
Frances and her son, Craig became a formidable team selling sewing machines during the late 1960’s. The Marine Corps called Craig away and Sears offered Frances a job in the sewing machine department. Promotions led her to becoming the first woman manager of a major division of Sears. When she retired in 1984, she was manager of four major divisions.
On December 20, 1975, her husband, Harley succumbed to a heart attack. She found solace in her work, her hobby of rock collecting begun some 33 years earlier. She joined the Enid Gem and Mineral Society in 1963. She served as president, and secretary, then became the editor of the club’s newsletter, The Hourglass News in 1986. She served in that position until June of this year, after producing some 166 bulletins. A stone she donated was selected to become Oklahoma’s contribution to the 50 states ring presented to Lady Bird Johnson and now residing in the Smithsonian Institute. Her work for the U. S. Department of Interior studying the formation of selenite crystals on the Great Salt Plains, produced a body of work still used today. Her efforts to save the crystal beds for future generations helped lead to their designation as a protected area to the setting aside of specific places where rock hunters can dig for the rare crystals. The Smithsonian also has her contribution of graduated hourglass crystals in their Minerals of the United States collection.
Frances expressed her desire to learn silver smithing while attending an EGMS meeting in early 1982. A new member, Gerald Vyvere Johnson offered to teach her. They married in November of 1982. Together they began a business selling rock specimens, minerals and jewelry. That business grew to become Johnson’s Jewelry and Rock Shop where, in addition to selling rocks and jewelry Frances also taught jewelry making and design. The Rock Shop is still open on 216 West Randolph, Enid, OK.
Frances is survived by her sister, (Fayona) Clarise Crawford McGinty of Alabam, her four children, eight grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.
She is preceded in death by her husbands, Harley Clark Vickers and Gerald Vyvere Johnson; her parents and her brothers Norman Earl Crawford, Dick (Dilmon) Cecil Crawford, (Forest) LaRue Crawford, Woodie Lowell Crawford and Gail Norman Crawford.
When asked what her most special moment was, Frances replied that it was in 1934 when at the age of 12 she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at the Orion Baptist Church.
Frances, The Rock Lady, was born November 14, 1921 in Fairview, OK, the oldest child of Clara Melissa Woods Crawford and Earl David Crawford. In 1938 she graduated from high school in Longdale, OK at the age of 16. She continued her education in the 1960’s when she received her AA degree from Northwestern State University in Home Economics and Industrial Arts.
In March of 1940 a young sailor named Harley Clark Vickers stole her heart and they married April 19, 1940. Navy life meant many relocations, from California to Illinois to Virginia. She and Harley had four children: Sandra Gayle Muckinhaupt, Santa Rosa, CA; (Jerald) Craig Vickers, Enid, OK; Janyce Myrna Vickers, the Andes of Peru, South America; and Denise Michelle Kramer, of Petaluma, CA. After Harley retired from the Navy in 1956, he and Frances returned to Oklahoma. They settled in Enid in 1963.
Frances excelled in all that she did. She became the number one salesperson in Avon in Illinois. She taught kindergarten in Virginia. She led Brownie, Girl Scout and Cub Scout troops. She was president of the PTA. She began writing in the 1960’s and had articles published in the National Gem & Mineral Society magazine and other publications. She was also a reporter for the Enid Morning News. She was invited to be a member of the American League of Pen Women and served as an officer of the Oklahoma League of Pen Women.
Frances and her son, Craig became a formidable team selling sewing machines during the late 1960’s. The Marine Corps called Craig away and Sears offered Frances a job in the sewing machine department. Promotions led her to becoming the first woman manager of a major division of Sears. When she retired in 1984, she was manager of four major divisions.
On December 20, 1975, her husband, Harley succumbed to a heart attack. She found solace in her work, her hobby of rock collecting begun some 33 years earlier. She joined the Enid Gem and Mineral Society in 1963. She served as president, and secretary, then became the editor of the club’s newsletter, The Hourglass News in 1986. She served in that position until June of this year, after producing some 166 bulletins. A stone she donated was selected to become Oklahoma’s contribution to the 50 states ring presented to Lady Bird Johnson and now residing in the Smithsonian Institute. Her work for the U. S. Department of Interior studying the formation of selenite crystals on the Great Salt Plains, produced a body of work still used today. Her efforts to save the crystal beds for future generations helped lead to their designation as a protected area to the setting aside of specific places where rock hunters can dig for the rare crystals. The Smithsonian also has her contribution of graduated hourglass crystals in their Minerals of the United States collection.
Frances expressed her desire to learn silver smithing while attending an EGMS meeting in early 1982. A new member, Gerald Vyvere Johnson offered to teach her. They married in November of 1982. Together they began a business selling rock specimens, minerals and jewelry. That business grew to become Johnson’s Jewelry and Rock Shop where, in addition to selling rocks and jewelry Frances also taught jewelry making and design. The Rock Shop is still open on 216 West Randolph, Enid, OK.
Frances is survived by her sister, (Fayona) Clarise Crawford McGinty of Alabam, her four children, eight grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.
She is preceded in death by her husbands, Harley Clark Vickers and Gerald Vyvere Johnson; her parents and her brothers Norman Earl Crawford, Dick (Dilmon) Cecil Crawford, (Forest) LaRue Crawford, Woodie Lowell Crawford and Gail Norman Crawford.
When asked what her most special moment was, Frances replied that it was in 1934 when at the age of 12 she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at the Orion Baptist Church.
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