Leola (Lola) Slawter Rains

April 7, 1928 – January 21, 2010

Leola Slawter was born on April 7, 1928 in Callahan, Florida to Jonah and Marie Slawter Mabe. She passed this life on Thursday, January 21, 2010 at the Golden Living Center in Cottonwood Falls, Kansas. She was married to Harold Eugene Rains on February 7, 1954 in Jacksonville, Florida. To this union were born two children: Steven Rains of Cottonwood Falls, Kansas, and Holly Rains Peterson of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Lola met Hal while he was in the Army stationed in Jacksonville, Florida.  After Hal was discharged from the military, the couple moved to Kansas.  They lived in Ft. Scott and Pittsburg before finally moving to Emporia.  Lola attended Pittsburg State University and Emporia State University. Lola worked as a telephone operator, as a comptometrist with the Western Union Insurance Company as well as with Dolly Madison. The last sixteen years prior to her retirement she served as a teacher’s aid at Emporia High School in the business department.  Lola loved to fish when she could, and enjoyed playing cards.  She was a very competitive pitch player and when she and her daughter-in-law Karen teamed up, they were a very formidable team.  She also really enjoyed cooking her southern style dishes and singing.  Her children have some fond memories of their mother. Holly shared that her mother’s favorite song was “Wind Beneath my Wings” by Bette Midler.  She loved that song because that is the way she felt about her husband.      Steve said this: “Mom was a bit of a stubborn woman. This was evident by the fact that whenever she would wear make-up it had to be Estee Lauder.  Nothing else would be tolerated.” Steve also shared, “I’ll never forget – about 12 years ago my mom allowed me the privilege of knowing that she loved Jesus.  While she was very ill and in the hospital, Mom and I were able to sit down and talk about the Lord.  She was very emotional when she, in no uncertain terms, told me that she loved Jesus with all of her heart.  This is a great comfort to all of our family, and I am so pleased to be able to share this with all.” Lola was preceded in death by her parents:  Jonah Slawter and Marie Slawter Mabe, and by her sister Daisy Senuta. She is survived by her sister, Mary Flint, and her brother, Jonah W. Slawter; by her son Steve and his wife, Karen Rains, by her daughter Holly and her husband, Ty Peterson; by her five grandchildren, Brandon, Matt, and Taylor Rains, and Haley and Tyson Peterson; and by her great grandchild, Lynnae Beth Rains, daughter of Brandon and his wife Lana.

 

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