Ninety Plus Member
Many Christians, like Lura Rubottom, at some time reach a place in life they need extra help to carry on. Since she turned her problems over to the Lord- and left them- she has been able to live serenely through stress and strain, as she walks by His side. Such is the experience of our newest Ninety Plus member.
Just at the end of the year 1896 on December 31, Daniel Webster and Frances Joan Clayton Kelly of Lawrence County, Tennessee welcomed their ninth child, a daughter they named Lura Allen. She was the last of eleven to be born in the same house where sixteen-year-old Frances and twenty-seven year old Daniel began their married life. He was both a farmer and teacher. Thus education was a very important part of their lives. After Lura's birth another farm a few miles away was bought and they moved to it. There the last two children entered the world, making a total of seven boys and four girls.
In 1905 there was an epidemic of typhoid fever. Mrs. Kelly and four of the children, including Lura took it. The mother did not recover, thus leaving the oldest sister in charge of the home. Only nine months later the father succumbed. The oldest brother, a sawmill operator, took over the farming, after one of the farms was sold to educate the children over sixteen. High school was at Lawrenceburg and to this school the children went as they completed the country school nearby. Two of the older ones attended a Methodist college at Athens, Tennessee.
Lura remembers that in those days they raised most of their living with everyone working, as needed--planting, hoeing and such. When she was helping her brother Tom planting corn she was to drop corn from her apron into the rows on top of the fertilizer he had spread, she spilled a lot. She picked up some, but just covered most with dirt. Surprisingly her patient brother didn't scold when the "gob" of corn sprouted, even though he had paid her one dollar for the job. The first money she earned was twenty-five cents for a pair of socks she had knitted, Quilting was done in the winter.
Social life was restricted to the school and church affairs. Singing was one form of recreation, but there was no dating of youngsters. Preaching was available only once a month for a long time, but always we could walk barefoot with our shoes over our shoulders, to the church yard, put them on for services, remove same and return home.
At home the Bib Bible lay on the center table opened to a picture of the devil, holding his pitchfork. In memory there seems to have more emphasis on the devil and hell than Christ and Heaven.
In 1911 brother Arthur brought his wife who was ailing, to the Eakly area. Two sisters followed the next year leaving Lura and a sister to take care of the household. But in 1913 Tom brought the others. This was the first train ride for Lura. They came to Fort Cobb where an uncle lived. The main reason for the move to Oklahoma was to be near Weatherford and the college which prepared teachers. Lura had always planned to be a teacher, so didn't mind working for her room and board to meet expenses. During the hard times she saw and picked her first cotton near Swan Lake.
When she was nearly nineteen she was refused a job teaching because she looked so young, even though she had a life certificate.
Life went on for the time, and later she was able to teach five years in Caddo County. At the church activities in Eakly she met Odbert R. Adams who was the first young man she dated for a trip to the Carnegie Fair. He had to tell her family that his mother and others would also be in the buggy before permission was given.
Odbert went to France during World War I, but returned to his farming with his father afterwards. He continued his courtship and the two were married on April 2, 1921 in Anadarko at the courthouse. Lura wore a new light blue dress, cape and hat for the occasion. Ten of the Adams were present. The newly-weds provided the dinner for all.
Until the end of the year the couple lived with his parents in the house on the farm Odbert had bought from his father in 1920. They were living in their own house, however, when the first child, a girl, was born on March 25. In addition to farming with cows to milk and chickens to feed, Mr. Adams was an excellent carpenter, so he was able to build a strictly modern home in time. He suffered a broken leg in 1927, just before another child was born. Although the doctor said he would not recover, he lived to see six children born and the four living one educated through high school with two as valedictorians. The living Adams children are: Maxine Holland of Los Angeles; Vivian Wood of Tulsa; O.R., Jr. of the home near Eakly, and Billy. There are twelve grandchildren, seven boys and five girls, and fifteen great grandchildren.
During the many years of living near and caring for her in-laws during their illnesses, there was an almost constant visiting by the other members of the family. A favorite sister-in-law was Odbert's sister Pearl who was married to Thad Rubottom. They were childless and loved their nieces and nephews. In time both Orbert and Pearl died. One day Thad came to Lura and said the Lord had told him to see Lura. He was lonely at 83, and she, at 75 could see a way to serve the Lord as a companion to one she had known and been near for years. They were married on May 19, 1972 and had nearly thirteen years together in spite of failing health for both. In time he had to live at the Nursing Home, but was happy until his death March 19, 1985.
Lura's ninetieth birthday reception was enjoyed by family and friends during the Thanksgiving holidays of 1986 when most could be present. Pictures were taken and the decorations and services were impressions of the love all had for this fine person. Long may she continue her work for the Lord and others!

Lura Adams Rubottom's Birthday Reception
In the United Methodist Fellowship Hall on November 30, Lura Adams Rubottom was honored by her family with a reception to observe her soon-to-be ninetieth birthday. Wearing a very becoming, beaded blue dress she moved among the nearly one hundred relatives and friends from near and far who had come to wish her well and to visit. Pictures of the decorations, honoree alone and among relatives and friends plus many other groups were taken by children and friends. it was a most enjoyable afternoon.
On the refreshment table and with the guestbook, pink and burgundy roses carried out the color scheme in bouquets. They also were scattered around the beautifully decorated birthday cake which rested on pillars over a flowing fountain. Two ascending staircases rose from twin cakes to the tree-tiered cake topped by a small, framed photo of the honoree. Fruit punch was served from a silver bowl matching the coffee service on an adjoining table.
Two young great granddaughters were in charge of the guest book. Two granddaughters-in-law and a granddaughter presided at the refreshment table.
An informal afternoon of visiting was enhanced by background piano music by grandson Ron Wood and songs by Natalie and Nichole. The Rev. Elswick offered a prayer of thanksgiving ofr the blessings of Mrs. Rubottom's life and family.
Mingling among the guess were Lura's own family. Dorothy and O.R. Adams of Eakly and their children--Raymond and Donna Adams and children Stacy and Brian of Moore, Oklahoma, Denise Componation of Tecumseh, Oklahoma and Scotty Adams of Eakly; Walt and Maxine Holland of Chatsworth, California, Bill and Paula Adams of Westhill, California; Vivian and Dale Wood of Tulsa and their children Ron and Sue Wood with children Natalie, Nicole and Westin, also of Tulsa; John and Janet Holland of Boise, Idaho were represented by a beautiful arrangement of carnations.
Other guests were: Mamie Brown, Susie Robertson, Marietta Fields, Mr. and Mrs. Buster Swanda, Vernon and Imogene Crose, Justin Copus, Ernest and Carolyn Copus, Travis and Adam Copus, J.B. and Ruth Harris, Ivy McBride, Mrs. Bill Carter, Pearl King, Jessie Tucker, Belle Black, Rev. and Mrs. Elswick, Judy Gayle Schmidt, Verle Buie, Thel Mae Buie, Leona Sharry, Jennie Beutler, Leonard Faught, Phyllis and Keith Copus, Mr. and Mrs. B.L. Netherton, Mrs. T.S. Puckett, Janelle Kelley, Waunita Kelley, Deanna Johnson, Juanita Roger, Carla Harvey, Nita Miller and Daniel, Stacey Stevens, Brenda Spradling, Helen McCullough, Leon Copus and family, Urbin and Elizabeth Davis, Vivian Horton, Lois Scott, Wilma Clay, Glenn and Zelpha Fowler, Gladys and Harold Davidson, Opal Taff, Hilda Haney, Ethel Mae Jennings, Mamie Hart, Darlene McRae, Mae and Floyd Clay, Mary Luper, Melda and Bill Bryant, Marietta Phillips, Leah H. Law, Mr. and Mrs. Thurman Whitley, Dorothy Dyer, Fred Schmidt, Mr. and Mrs. Orval Whitworth, Hazel Pennington, Gwen Kelly, Iva Kaufman, Alma Lasley, Gaye Lasley Jech, Zelma Lasley, and Ovie Terrell.

Contributor:
Lillian - [email protected]