Audrey June Groom

Audrey June Groom, 87 years, of Claremore, Oklahoma, passed away on September 15, 2017 at the Brookdale-Claremore Assisted Living.

Audrey was born June 29, 1930 in Elkville, Illinois to Sherman and Ruth (Lefler) Heape. She was the seventh of nine siblings. She graduated from Elkville Community High School in May 1949. She took Girl's Chorus for four years and loved to sing. She had moved to Chicago, Illinois and worked for Southwestern Bell telephone. Audrey enlisted in Women's Army Corps August 9, 1951 in Chicago, Illinois. She completed her Basic Training in Fort Lee, VA. She also completed the Signal Corps Training in teletype operation. This is where she met Claude Christian. He was taking the course and they sent messages back and forth to each other. They were married the 28th day of February 1952. Claude was sent to Germany during the Korean Conflict. Audrey returned home to Elkville awaiting his homecoming. They lived in St. Louis, Missouri and later moved to Oklahoma to be nearer to Claude's family. Claude and Audrey had three sons, Claude Wayne, Dennis Lee, and Kenneth Ray, and one daughter, Terri June. They were married until 1975.

Audrey worked in the office at the Oklahoma Auction Yard. She later worked as a caregiver to Elnora Longfellow. She met John Ross Groom. They married in Pawhuska, Oklahoma on the 1Oth of January 1983. They moved to Arizona for a few years but returned to Osage, Oklahoma in 1986. John Groom died August 18, 1997 .They had many happy years together. Audrey took care of John during his last years with Parkinson's disease.

Audrey accepted the Lord at the age of 11. Her brother, George, influenced her to go to church. She loved God the rest of her life taking all of her children to church and teaching the Bible to them day and night. She was a hard worker, sacrificing selflessly for her family. Audrey had a good sense of humor, quick wit and she was loyal and honest. She loved gardening, sewing, painting, and bowling. Later in life she kept busy making phone calls and writing cards to church members. She was a member of Calvary Worship Center in Hominy, Oklahoma. Audrey loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her last three years she lived at Brookdale Claremore Assisted Living. They took wonderful care of her. Avow Hospice assisted her the last months of her life.

Audrey is survived by: her 3 sons and 1 daughter: Claude Wayne Christian, and his wife, Jean, of Carthage, MO, Dennis Lee Christian, and his wife, Joni, of Bristow, OK, Kenny Ray Christian, and his wife, Pam, of Hominy, OK, Terri June Reed, and her husband, Eddie, of Hominy, OK; 11 grandchildren: Terra Brassfield, and her husband, Russell, of Wylie, TX, Jason Christian, and his wife, Denise, of Garland, TX, Stephen Christian, and his wife, Shelley, of Little Elm, TX, Adam Christian, and his wife Abby, of Columbia, MO, Sarah Balentine, and her husband, Aaron, of Augusta, Georgia, Chad Christian, and his wife, Suzy, of Dewey, OK, Daniel Christian, and his wife Jessica, of Hominy, OK, Caleb Christian, and his wife, Chelsea, of Skiatook, OK, Melissa Beavers, and her husband, Caleb, of Tulsa, OK, John Reed, of Hominy, OK and Rebecca Havens, and her husband, Justin, of Cleveland, OK; 12 great grandchildren: Haylee Pond, Kaylee Pond, Baylee Christian, and Dallas Christian, of Little Elm, TX; Tanner Christian and Cason Christian of Garland, TX; Litsy Christian, Lincoln Christian, and Lindyn Christian of Dewey, OK; Lola Havens and Guy Havens of Cleveland, OK; and Saylor Beavers of Tulsa, OK

Audrey was preceded in death by her parents, Sherman and Ruth Heape; her first husband, Claude Christian; her second husband, John R. Groom; her brothers: George Heape, Willard Heape, and Abraham (Abe) Heape; and her sisters: Frieda Fritz, Sharon Eaton, Doris Shaw, Judy Barrett, and Mary Porter.

Funeral services will be held 10 AM, Wednesday, September 20, 2017 at the Calvary Worship Center, in Hominy, with her son, the Reverend Kenny Christian officiating. Pallbearers will be her grandsons: Jason Christian, Chad Christian, Daniel Christian, Caleb Christian, John Reed, and Justin Havens. Honorary pallbearers will be Stephen Christian and Caleb Beavers. Musical selections will be: "Amazing Grace" with Amy Williams as vocalist and "No Longer a Slave" with Daniel and Jessica Christian as vocalists. Military Honors will be provided by the VFW 5th District Rifle Squad of Skiatook, OK. Burial will follow services at Osage Cemetery in Osage, OK.

Powell Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. Online condolences and memories may be left in the guestbook at PowellFuneralService.com.

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