Julia Elder

Sept 2, 1920 - Sept 9, 2011 OKLAHOMA CITY Julia Elder died peacefully in her sleep Friday a.m., 9/9/11, with a smile on her face, and watching the Home Improvement channel on TV (talk about instant home improvement!!!). Now, she's walking streets of Gold! She's STANDING TALL and WHOLE!!! She lived 91 years and 1 week with a life filled with Life, Laughter and UNCONDITIONAL Love for everyone she ever met! Julia grew up in Leedey, OK area as an orphan of sorts with her 2 loving brothers, Bill and Bud. Bill took on the challenge of raising his 1st family at the young age of 16. (He did a Good job!) there are no better 3 people in the entire world to be found. Hard times and World War II brought Julia to OKC Douglas Air Force Base to become "Rosie the Riveter:" X 4 years. Their motto, "We Can Do IT!!" and they did!They brought the troops home and along with the troops came a very special man, Gail Elder, from "Out Home," as the called the farm. They had a great love story and married Dec. 22, 1945. The marriage was blessed with 2 children, Tera Kay and Larry Don. What perfect parents to have! How blessed were we! Julia's homemaker years were rich and full. Homemaker, vegetable garden to feed the entire church, flower gardens, PTA, church activities galore, Sunday School teacher for 8 year olds X 62 years, GA teach X 25 years, Falls Creek cook for teen-agers. She cooked for All church activities, and she always worked in Vacation Bible School. Julia and her friend, Lois, gave countless wedding and baby showers for everyone in church. She and Lois were always there!! Julia was the Matriarch of the family and always had her 2 brothers and their families for every holiday!! Everyone loved "pigging out" on Mom's yummy cooking, and after eating they would all waddle to the den to watch football -- OU or Dallas, of course! She continued the tradition till the late 1990s when she started breaking her hips by falling.Then she had to reinvent herself and "sit" more, and the Daily Loving Center on S. Penn became her new adventure!! Thank you DLC!!! She loved you all and was very proud of her "SOUIE" award!!! Julia enjoyed every phase of her long life! Her favorite scripture was Nehemiah 8:10 ? The Joy of the Lord is your strength. She stayed Joyful to the end!!Her family, Ed Lyons, Garret Hopper, Christa Julia Lyons and Destiny Riese were her major caretakers during her homebound period of life. They did a wonderful job!! Thank you!! She was our North Star!! Our true and faithful Guide, our Counselor, Teacher, Joy-Bringer, and Laughter maker! Truly part of the Greatest Generation! She gave us all God-Like, unconditional Love. Thank for the memories, Sweet Julia.Services will be held at Advantage Funeral Services ~ South Chapel at 10:00 AM, Tuesday, September 13, 2011. Family visitation will be held from 6-8 PM, Monday, 9/12/2011.