Mary Jo (Starns) Rains

Mary Jo (Starns) Rains , age 86 and a long-time resident of Konawa, Oklahoma and Seminole County, passed away on April 2, 2022 at Featherstone Nursing Home in Ada.

A graveside service is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. April 6, 2022 at Vamoosa Cemetery under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home of Konawa.  Rev. Mike Cox will officiate.  Viewing will begin Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Mary Jo was born the youngest of seven children on October 27, 1935 in Konawa to Albert W. Starns and Leona Mary (Winfield) Starns.  She was baptized at age fifteen at the First Baptist Church of Konawa and remained a current member.  After graduating from Vamoosa High School at age seventeen, she moved to Oklahoma City where she was employed by Universal C.I.T. Credit Corporation.  While there, she also did fashion modeling in Oklahoma City from 1953 to 1956.  Mary Jo married Billy Z. Rains on June 17, 1956.  She pursued her education from Seminole State College, East Central State College of Ada, Pontotoc Technology Center of Ada, Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and several other institutes of banking.  Mary Jo started her banking career in 1957 at Oklahoma State Bank of Konawa which is now known as BancFirst.  After forty-five years in banking, she retired from BancFirst as Sr. Vice-president and Branch Manager on December 31, 2002.  She was also a licensed Insurance Agent, and she was a member of the Konawa Chamber of Commerce.  She served on the Central Oklahoma Family Medical Board and was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary.  Mary Jo’s accomplishments included being listed in Cambridge Who’s Who among Executive and Professional Women, and Who’s Who of the Southwest in banking; 2003 appointment to Secretary for the Seminole County Election Board; 2006 appointment to the BancFirst Community Board; and serving on numerous committees, foundations, and charities in several of the local counties. She also contributed to numerous hospitals, medical organizations, and other charitable foundations.  She loved her pets and enjoyed the outdoors, sports, and reading.

She is survived by one son, Nicky Z. Rains of Oklahoma City, and one grandson, Justin M. Rains also of Oklahoma City.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Leona Starns; husband, Billy Rains; four brothers, William Frank Starns, Claud Albert Starns, Jimmy L. Starns, and Billy Eugene Starns; and two sisters, Lucille Bates Watts, and Kathleen Grimes Belt.