"Rusty" Modena Faye (Johnson) Balay

Modena Faye (Johnson) Balay, age 85 and a resident of Konawa, Oklahoma went to be with the Lord on Sunday, November 20, 2011 at Sunset Estates in Tecumseh, Oklahoma. Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Friday, November 25th at Swearingen Funeral Home Chapel in Konawa.  Burial will follow at Konawa City Cemetery.  Rev. Larry Norris will officiate.  Modena’s grandsons will serve as pallbearers.  Visitation times are 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday & Wednesday. Modena, known as “Rusty”, was born on July 27, 1926 in Konawa to Ray Johnson and Willa Mae (Baggett) Johnson.  Rusty grew up in Konawa, and when WWII began, she moved to Oklahoma City to work at Tinker Air Force Base.  It was while working at Tinker Field, that she met the love of her life, James “Rex” Balay.  She and Rex were married on January 2, 1946.  After the birth of daughters Judy and Becky, Rex and Rusty moved to California where they lived in the Los Angeles area until retirement.  In 1973, they returned to Konawa to spend the rest of their lives. Rusty was one of those talented people who could do anything she set her mind to do.  She painted, did wood crafts, quilted, and made countless pieces of clothing for her beloved daughters and grandsons.  She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Konawa, and she was a much-loved Christian mother, wife, and Nanny. She is survived by two daughters, Judy Schallhorn and husband, David of Ada, Oklahoma, and Becky Eropkin and husband, Jim of Earlsboro, Oklahoma; two brothers, Larry Johnson and wife, Darlene of Konawa, and Ray Johnson of Florida; nine grandsons, Tad Davis and wife, Cyndi, Jamie Davis and wife, Amy, Nick Eropkin and wife, Angel, Michael Eropkin and wife, Amy, Dan Eropkin and wife, Kate, David Eropkin and wife, Lori, Mark Schallhorn and wife, Melanie, Andrew Schallhorn and wife, Janie, and John Schallhorn and wife, Vicky; foreign-exchange grandson, Marko Stefanovic and wife, Joanna; and 16 great grandchildren, Kelcey Eropkin, Brandon Eropkin, Joseph Eropkin, Elizabeth Eropkin, Olivia Eropkin, Brittany Davis, Jordan Davis, Justin Noble, Sarah Noble, Emily Noble, Madison Schallhorn, Morgan Schallhorn, Kelsey Schallhorn, Keaton Schallhorn, Grace Schallhorn, and Grant Schallhorn. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rex Balay; her parents, Ray and Willa Mae Johnson; and one sister, Mildred Owen. Funeral Information: November 25, 2011, 2:00 PM Swearingen Funeral Home Chapel located at 217 N. Broadway, Konawa, OK 74849