Juanita Aust, a long-time Lawton resident, known for her love and devotion to her friends and family, died Wednesday, April 23, 2008.

Throughout her life, she was surrounded by friends and family who adored her.

She was born in Marlow, Oklahoma on July 19, 1919 to Ollie and Lela Morrison Hedgcoxe. She attended Marlow schools and graduated from Marlow High School. She then worked as a secretary and bookkeeper for Callaway’s Furniture in Marlow.

After attending Draughons Business College, she worked at the Finance Office at Fort Sill. There she met and married James W. Aust on October 11, 1942.

She was a partner to James in business as well as in life. They and other family members formed Aust Mortgage and Investment Company, Inc. which was later sold to American National Bank. They also owned and operated A & A Finance and James W. Aust Finance.

She was a sustaining member of the Lawton Junior Service League; a member of Chapter I, P.E.O. Sisterhood and the last surviving member of the “War Brides” – a wonderful group of women who were life-long friends.

She loved to cook and was a wonderful mother, grandmother and homemaker.

She was a member of the Centenary United Methodist Church and later of the First United Methodist Church.

Proceeded in death by her husband; her parents and her sister, Betty Jo Schiavone, Juanita is survived by her daughter, Donna Aust Littlefield, and her special friend, Ben Meraz, of Lawton, Oklahoma; a grandson, Austin Wayne Littlefield and his wife, Anissa, of Dallas, Texas; a brother-in-law, John D. Aust and his wife, Jeanine, of Lawton, Oklahoma; a sister-in-law, Peggy Aust of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; nephews, Mark Schiavone and his wife, Bonnie, of Sarasota, Florida; William A. Cole of Duncan, Oklahoma, Steve Aust and his wife, Dawn of Lawton, Oklahoma, Earnest Aust III and his wife, Becky, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; nieces, Carolyn Hardeman and her husband, John, of Norman, Oklahoma, and Cathy Cox of Dallas, Texas; cousins, Daniel Harrison and his wife, Mary, of Marlow, Oklahoma and Burl Porter of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
     
A memorial service is planned for 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 29, 2008, at the First United Methodist Church, 2602 NW Ferris, Lawton, with the Rev. Don Howard, pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, officiating. A private family entombment will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens under the direction of Lawton Ritter Gray Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, 2602 NW Ferris, Lawton, OK 73505, or to a charity of the donors’ choice.