Lela Ruth Yarosh

Many people lost a mom when Lela Ruth Thompson Yarosh passed away on August 31, 2025. Mama Lela was so sweet, caring and soft-spoken, doing so much for others, though often so little for herself. Of her many qualities, perhaps her most endearing was her natural persona as everyone's mom, aided by her down-home Texas hospitality. Or maybe that should be "grandmother", as she did spoil of lot of us.

She was born at her family's home in the Mooresville-Breckenridge area of rural Missouri to John J. and Mamie Eunice Lotz Thompson on January 19, 1934. She moved to Kansas, eventually settling in Wichita, where, at age 13, she welcomed her first chance at "motherhood", becoming a highly involved second mom to her brand new baby sister, Diana Thompson Webster. She provided so much care, support and love for that girl, but that was only the beginning. In 1953, she married Joseph (Joe) Yarosh and launched her primary career as a housewife and mother. She practiced her skills all over the U.S. Joe's job at Boeing sent him to Seattle, WA, then back to Wichita. Then he re-enlisted in the Air Force. Of course, as an Air Force wife, she moved far and often, first to Enid, OK, then Laredo, TX, Homestead, FL, Minot, ND, Austin, TX, Riverside, CA and Kincheloe, MI before finally settling back in her favored Austin. During that time, she officially became a mom, twice in Wichita (Michael (Mike) and Robert (Bob) Yarosh), and once in each of Minot (Dawn Yarosh Boone) and Austin (John Yarosh). Sandwiched between her first and last pair, she brought her teenage brother-in-law, Harry Yarosh, into her home for a few years.

Her care and nurturing was by no means limited to relatives. It extended to nearly everyone she met, and all ages, as she just brought more and more people under her wings. She wanted to do so much, perhaps too much, for so many, perhaps too many. She mothered her children's friends, eventual spouses, neighbors et al, always helping, always supporting, always loving. And cooking! Always cooking. She handled almost all family events, though her extended family could be sizable. That included all holidays, preparing an overabundance of food and sending everyone home with good feelings, gifts and a week of leftovers. Like a true mom (Or is that grandma?), she tailored her menu to accommodate all tastes, preferences and restrictions, and carefully and diligently shopped for personalized gifts. Her motto may have been "Anything worth doing is worth overdoing." If not that, maybe "Everything for everyone."

She created "family" in all those places she lived, but most of the closest ended up with her in Austin. Her four actual children and Harry moved here with her. Even after they left her main nest, they stayed in the area. Diana also eventually moved to Austin. What a blessing for Lela and all of them. Of course, she never stopped "adopting". Nonetheless, she found herself with some extra time, so engaged in a lengthy second career at IRS, eventually as a Special Agent, likely the most special, showing that some of the nicest people worked there. Of course, many of her coworkers found out they inherited a new mom.

As a mother to so many, Lela had much joy in her life and brought much joy into the lives of her "children".

There was sorrow, too. She so mourned those who left her too early, particularly her mom and dad, and, way too early, two sons, John and Mike.

Now seeking comfort, no longer under Mama Lela's wings, are: her husband Joe; children Bob (Paula) and Dawn (Randy); brothers Richard (Barbara) and Bill; sister Diana (Dallas); brother-in-law Harry (Ellen), recently flown away to Saucier, MS; John's widow, Beth; two grandchildren; a great-grandchild; that myriad of other now-less-mothered nieces, nephews, in-laws and implicitly "adopted children".

Her "kids" will flock together for a Celebration of Life for both Lela and her recently departed son, Mike, on November 22 at 11:00 AM at Woodlawn Baptist Church, 4600 Menchaca Rd in Austin.