Viona Ellen Conley was born the ninth child to Josiah Joseph and Eliza Jane Roberts Conley on December 22, 1874 in Blair Township, Clay County, Illinois, USA.

1880 U.S. Federal Census - Blair Township, Clay County, Illinois, USA
Household:
Josiah Conley (47)
Lizy J. Conley (43)
Wm. J. Conley (22)
Jas. M. Conley (21)
Phebe Conley (19)
John T. Conley (16)
Andrew J. Conley (14)
Huldy Conley (12)
Ida Jane Conley (10)
Josiah Conley (9)
VINA ELLEN CONLEY (7)
Lilly May Conley (2)

Colfax County, Nebraska Marriages, Alpha by Bride - October 28, 1896 - January 13, 1930

Bride: Vina Conley - Groom: Frank Grous [Graus]
Book: 4 - Page: 288

MARRIAGE LICENSE
Groom: Frank Graus - Age: 28 - Race: White
Place of Birth: Ohio - Residence: Colfax County, Nebraska
Father's Name: Peter Grous [Graus] - Mother's Maiden Name: Unknown
Bride: Vina Conley - Age: 24 - Race: White
Residence: Colfax County, Nebraska
Father's Name: Josiah Conley - Mother's Maiden Name: Eliza Roberts

CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE
To the County Judge of Colfax County, Nebraska: This Certifies, That on the 3rd day of January A.D. 1900 at Schuyler in said County, according to law and by authority, I duly Joined in Marriage, Mr. Frank Graus and Miss Vina Conley and there were present as witnesses John Craig & Mary Bla.......Given under my hand the 3rd day of January A.D. 1900 - Signed: Frank Cuba, County Judge.

1900 U.S. Federal Census - Colfax Precinct, Colfax County, Nebraska, USA
Household:
Frank Grouss [Graus] (28)
Viona Grouss (24)
Mother: Number of living children: 0 - Mother: How many children: 0.

1910 U.S. Federal Census - Grant Township, Custer County, Oklahoma, USA
Household:
Frank Grans [Graus] (39)
Vina Grans (37)
Harold Grans (10)
Ruby Grans (6)
Ralph Grans (3)
James Conley (51) - brother of Vina Graus
We learn from the census that Vina is able to read and write, Vina and Frank have been married for ten years, and she is the mother of three living children.

Vina Ellen Graus lost her husband to death about 21 June 1912, while living in Custer County, Oklahoma, USA. The Oklahoma, Wills and Probate Records, 1801-2008 confirms his death: "Frank Grous [Graus] died intestate on or about June 21, 1912 at his home in Custer County, State of Oklahoma."

1920 U.S. Federal Census - Grant Township, Custer County, Oklahoma, USA
Household:
Vina E Graus (47)
Harold F Graus (19)
Ruby M Graus (16)
Ralph V Graus (13)
We learn that Vina, now a widow, is living on the farm, which is owned free of any mortgage. At the age of 19, her son, Harold is farming the land.

1930 U.S. Federal Census - Clovis, Curry, New Mexico, USA
Household:
Orina [Vina] Grans [Graus] (56)
Ruby Grans (26)
Ralph Grans (23)
Roomers: H B Tullis and Wm S Fulton
The Graus family was living at 519 Wallace in a rented house.

Clovia Evening News Journal, July 8, 1931, page 3
"MISS STEWART ENTERTAINS FOR GUESTS

Miss Ruby Stewart entertained in her home at 719 Wallace Saturday evening, honoring her cousins, S.B. Cox and T.G. Cox, of Abilene, Texas.

Games of forty-two, pit and rook were introduced to provide entertainment for the evening, with lovely refreshments of ice cream, cake and orangeade served late to the following guests: Misses Ruby Graus, Elizabeth Taylor and Fannie Sheridan; Mrs. Vina Graus, Mrs. A.S. Stewart of Grand Saline, Texas; Mr. and Mrs. Carl Briggs of Grady; Mr. and Mrs. S.M. Stewart; Messrs. S.B. and T.G. Cox of Abilene, Texas; Pete and Clyde Briggs of Portales, Buren Stewart and the hostess."

Clovis Evening Journal - Wednesday, Sep. 11, 1935, page 2
"MRS. VINA GRAUS DIES

Funeral services for Mrs. Vina Graus were held at the C.V. Steed Chapel at 2 p.m. today. She died at her home, 516 Sheldon Street last night. The body was shipped to Thomas, Okla., for interment.

The deceased is survived by two sons, Ralph, of Clovis, Harold of Oklahoma City, and Miss Ruby Graus, a daughter, who is a teacher in the local schools. Her husband preceded her in death many years ago."

Clinton Daily News (Clinton, Oklahoma) 11 Sep 1935, Wed. P1
"COUNTY PIONEER TAKEN BY DEATH - FUNERAL SERVICES AT THOMAS THURSDAY

Funeral services for Mrs. Vina Graus, 60, who died at her home in Clovis, New Mexico, Tuesday, will be held at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon in the First Methodist Church of Thomas.

The Rev. W. S. Deering will be in charge of the services. Burial will be made in the Bethel Cemetery, west of Thomas, under the direction of the Kern and Schneider Funeral Home.

Mrs. Graus was a pioneer resident of Custer County, moving from Thomas to Clovis seven years ago. She had resided at Clovis since that time. She was a member of the Methodist Church of Clovis.

Survivors include one daughter, Ruby, Clovis; two sons, Harold of Oklahoma City, and Ralph of Clovis; two sisters, Mrs. Phoebe Brooks of Oklahoma City and Mrs. May Groat of Thomas; and two brothers, A. J. Conley of Melrose, N. Mex., and Joe Conley of Thomas."

The Thomas Tribune (Thomas, Oklahoma) 12 Sep 1935, Thu. Page 1
"MRS. VINA GRAUS TAKEN BY DEATH WEDNESDAY A.M.

Mrs. Vina Graus, formerly a resident of Independence neighborhood, who has been residing in Clovis, New Mexico, for several years, died Wednesday morning, according to intelligence reaching her sister, Mrs. M. Groat, who resides west of Thomas.

Surviving relatives include one daughter, Miss Ruby, Clovis, N.M.; two sons, Harold, a resident of Oklahoma City; Ralph of the home address; two sisters, Mrs. M. Groat, this community; Mrs. Phoebe Brooks, Oklahoma City; two brothers, A. J. Conley, Melrose, N.M.; and Joe Conley, who maintains permanent headquarters at the home of his sister, Mrs. M. Groat.

Rites were held this afternoon at 2 o'clock in the First M. E. Church, this city, conducted by Rev. W. S. Dearing, assisted by Rev. R. E. Alspaugh, pastor of the church.

Interment was made in Bethel Cemetery, six miles west and one mile north of Thomas."

The Thomas Tribune (Thomas, Oklahoma) 19 Sep 1935, Thu. Page 4
"OBITUARY

The following obituary was read last Thursday by Rev. W. S. Dearing, who conducted the funeral of the late Mrs. Vina Ellen Graus.

Vina Ellen Conley was the daughter of Josiah and Eliza Conley. She was born in Clay County, Ill., December 31, 1874. Her death occurred following a long and severe illness at Clovis, New Mexico, September 10, 1935, at the age of sixty years, eight months and nineteen days.

In her early womanhood she moved from Illinois to Nebraska, and it was at Schuyler, Nebraska, that on January 3, 1900, she was united in marriage to Frank Graus. To this happy union two sons and one daughter were born, namely, Harold of Oklahoma City; Ralph of Clovis, New Mexico, and Miss Ruby of the home address at Clovis. All three children were born in Nebraska.

The family moved from Nebraska to Oklahoma in 1908, settling on a fine farm seven miles west of Thomas. It was there that her husband preceded her in death passing away about twenty-four years ago. But she, with the children, continued to live in the old home until 1928, when she moved to Clovis, New Mexico, mainly on account of her health. She resided in that state until the time of her death.

In early life, she gave her heart to her Savior and all the time she lived in Oklahoma she was a consistent and useful member of the M. E. Church, South. She continued true to her Savior during her remaining days and died in the triumph of a living faith.

She leaves besides her, three children, already mentioned, two brothers, Andy of Melrose, N. M., Joe of Thomas, Okla.; two sisters, Mrs. Phoebe Broon(k)s, Oklahoma City and Mrs. May Groat, Thomas, Okla. She also leaves many other relatives and friends who are grieved because of her departure.

All the brothers and sisters are present today.

We, today, say "good-bye" to all that is earthly of mother, sister and neighbor, but it is not an eternal farewell as is expressed in the following lines most beautifully expressed by the poet:

'Sleep on, beloved, and take thy rest. Lay down thy head upon thy Savior's breast; We love thee well, but Jesus loves thee best. Good-by, loved one, good-by. Calm is thy slumber as an infant's sleep; but thou wilt wake no more to toil and to weep; Thine is a perfect rest, secure and deep; Good-by, loved one, good-by. Until the shadows from this earth are cast; Until he gathers in the sheaves at last; Until the twilight gloom is ever past, Good-by, loved one, good-by. Only good-night, beloved, not farewell A little while and all thy saints shall dwell, In hallowed union, indivisible. Good-by, loved one, good-by.'