Lena L. McCollough, 71, passed away peacefully Wednesday, July 8, 2009, in Ft Worth, Texas, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born Lena Lee Johnson on Feb. 18, 1938, in Buckhorn community of Choctaw County, Okla., to Cufford and Lillie Baker Johnson.

She married Bill McCollough on Oct. 19, 1957, in Durant, Okla. Bill served in the Air Force and she and Bill retired from the service in October 1974 after 20 years. Lena was almost alone in raising the first two children as she and Bill were separated by his Air Force duties for five of the seven years of their marriage. She never complained because she felt that was her duty as a mother and wife. Lena was a loving wife and mother, but she was much more than that. She was called mom by people when she was not their biological mother, she was a sister, a grandmother and aunt Lena by dozens of nieces and nephews and many others who adopted her as an aunt when by were no blood kin at all. Lena provided a place in Ryan, Okla., for her family and adopted family to meet, and they did. When Lena's car pulled up in front of the house, people paraded in from all over town. Lena helped many and hurt no one. She was loved by everyone she met. This world lost a great person, but her next world gained a great asset.

Lena was preceded in death by her father and mother, Cufford and Lillie Johnson; her sister, Wilma Ingram; her brother, Austin Johnson; and her granddaughter, Lena Rose McCollough.

Survivors include: Husband, Bill; daughters, Pamela McCollough and Patricia Roddam; son, William H. McCollough II; grandsons, Christopher Roddam of Long Beach, Calif., Brandon Roddam of Fort Worth and Micajah McCollough of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; stepchildren, Tausha of Corpus Christi and Joshua Jones of St. Pauls, N.C.; sisters, Elesabeth McKee of Choctaw County, Okla., Joyce Lacey and Patsy Hodges of Ryan, Okla.; brothers, Lonnie and Theodore Johnson of Ryan, Okla., and Gary Johnson of McKinney; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Mrs. McCullough will be at 11:00 AM Saturday, July 11, at Ryan Assembly of God in Ryan, Okla., with graveside services to follow. Visitation: 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Greenwood Funeral Home with a gathering of friends and family at VFW Post 8235 immediately following. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to The American Cancer Society, 3301 West Freeway, Fort Worth, Texas, in her name.