Lucille Frances 'Lucille Frances Braun W Watkins

Lucille Frances Braun Watkins passed away on August 20, 2013. Lucille was born in Hobart, Oklahoma on July 12, 1922. She graduated as valedictorian from Bishop John Carroll High School in Oklahoma City in 1940. While in high school, she was accompanist for a voice teacher, assistant organist at Our Lady's Cathedral besides managing other musical jobs. Through her formal training was embarrassing by small, it seemed she was destined to be involved always in music. Living the first five years of her marriage in Kansas City, MO, she was assistant organist and vocalist at St. Mary's Catholic Church, all the while rearing three sons, one of whom died in infancy. The family moved to Dayton, Ohio where she was organist/ cantor/ music director for Assumption Church for 37 years "pinch-hitting" at other parishes. Three more sons were born and after the last, she took a job as accompanist for a theatrical school where contacts led her into the nightclub business. She worked for the Karl Taylor Agency, playing cocktail lounges and hotels also belonging to the Musicians' Union. Her sons all played instruments and joined her at times, especially Mark, who before priesthood was drummer for many dances. She loved to cook (was a certified cake decorator and florist), have parties and entertain friends and delighted in celebrations with her sons and stepsons and neighbors and dear relatives. Her greatest thrill was earning her pilots license in 1965; she was sponsored into the Ohio 99's (International Organization of Women's' Pilots begun by Amelia Earhart) and joined the Oklahoma chapter after moving to Oklahoma City. In Oklahoma City, she was organist at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Mustang and many years at St. Joseph's Old Cathedral. Besides the "99's", she belonged to the American Guild of Organists, the Ladies Music Club and the now disbanded Sundowners. She was preceded in death by her infant son Kurt and husband John Joyce in 1984, brother Tom Braun and her stepson John. She is survived by her sons Daniel and wife Sue, Christopher and wife Patricia, Stephen, Father Mark, Matthew and step-sons Charles and Phillip along with sisters Mary Lou Khoury of O.C., Josephine Layton of Lawton, and Rose Runyon of Sidney, Ohio; five grandchildren Mark, Jenni, Jason, Kurt and Tim; many step-grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, etc. An Evening Prayer Service will be held at 7:00pm on Friday, August 23, 2013 at Smith & Kernke Funeral Home 23rd Street Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00am on Saturday, August 24, 2013 at St. Joseph's Old Cathedral. Burial at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery in Hobart, OK.