Wilma Claudine Rains of Farmersville, Texas, was born in Saddle, Arkansas on March 27, 1929. She passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 24, 2019, after a lengthy illness which brought her to reside at Farmersville Health and Rehabilitation for her final weeks. She had been confined to her home for several years and was cared for by her daughter, Bobbie Pope. Wilma was a strong, independent woman who worked hard for her family her entire life. First for her father in Arkansas, and then with her husband Ray, she worked in the fields planting and harvesting crops as well as becoming a seamstress and making formals for young ladies in Gunter, Texas. Later, moving to Southeast Texas, she worked as the office manager at a small community hospital. Another move brought her to her greatest pride for accomplishment in serving as a municipal judge and the Mayor of Liverpool, Texas. Wilma worked tirelessly in 1979 during the floods in Liverpool where she organized crews during evacuation and after for cleanup, in spite of having over four feet of water in her own home. She came to Farmersville in 1983 when her husband Ray began his concrete business. After his death in October of the same year, Wilma continued to live and work in Farmersville for the remainder of her life and was a faithful member of the Farmersville Church of Christ. Some may remember her as a clerk at Feagin’s Grocery for a short time, but she is perhaps better known for her work with the Chamber of Commerce and handling the rentals and cleanup of the Civic Center. Her child care, sewing and clothes pressing skills helped to support her well into her eighties. She loved her family and friends and enjoyed caring for their children. She often had one of them living with her when they needed. She was a true matriarch of the Rogers family. She was a beloved aunt, not only to the children of her siblings, but also to those in her husband’s Rains family. She loved to write letters and send cards for birthdays and holidays and continued until she could no longer write due to her illness, but several continued to send them to her.
Wilma was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Laura Rogers, her husband Ray Rains, grandson Randy Keithley and her seven siblings. She was the firstborn of eight children: herself, Leola Harmon, Verlin Rogers, Rose Rabey, Arthur Rogers Jr, Dessie Harty, Rick Rogers and Carl “Tony” Rogers.
She is survived by her children, Randy Anderson and wife Sherry, Bobbie Pope, Vicki Melancon and husband Ronnie. Her grandchildren are Chris Keithley (wife Loree), Larry Keithley, Jeri Campbell (husband Donnie), Brandee Scoggins (husband Clay), Robert Anderson (wife Melinda), Rusty Huddleston, and Lisa Stramecki (husband Anthony). Great grandchildren are Stacy Key, Darin Keithley, Halie Campbell, Brooke Richardson, Jacob Scoggins, Emily Scoggins, Elizabeth Scoggins, Kimberly Scoggins, Jordan Scoggins, Alissa Anderson, Gracie Anderson, Ray Stramecki, Sammy Stramecki, Teddy Stramecki and Krysta Stramecki. Great-great grandchildren are Elizabeth Key, Kennedy Key, and Karsyn Richardson.
Pallbearers will be Chris Keithley, Larry Keithley, Robert Anderson, Clay Scoggins, Donnie Campbell and Anthony Stramecki.
Services will be at Farmersville Church of Christ on Friday, March 29, 2019 with visitation to begin at 12:30 p.m. and the funeral service at 2:00 p.m. Burial will be at Van Alstyne Cemetery where Wilma will be interred next to her husband Ray Rains.