Mattie Irene Kokoruda

Mattie Irene Strain Kokoruda was born to Celie (Lockhart) and John Strain on June 28, 1922 in DeKalb, Texas and left this life peacefully on September 8, 2014, in Rockwall, Texas. A true East Texas Country Girl who never forgot where she came from and proudly wore the colors of Old Glory wherever she went. Preceded in death by her husband of 48 years Frank Kokoruda and all of her brothers and sisters, Mattie is survived by her children Deannie Kokoruda Diseker and husband Bob, George Kokoruda and wife Vicki, Celie Kokoruda Reid, and Laurie Kokoruda Harris and husband Gary. Mattie was grandmother to Thad Nelson and wife Sarena, Ishelle Nelson, Ashley Kokoruda Mills and husband Barry, Mindy Kokoruda Medford and husband Paul, Cooper Harris and Brody Harris. And was great grandmother to Elena Nelson, Jaden Storey, Brock Mills, Shepard Mills, Emerson Medford, Haven Mills and Evan Medford. Mattie was a wonderful wife, mother and giving grandmother. A fabulous cook, many friends of her kids still talk about her hamburgers, tuna fish sandwiches, Sunday roast beef dinners or her made- from- scratch red velvet cake. She loved to travel and often talked about how many states in the union she had visited. Playing 42 with friends was her favorite pastime. A tennis player from high school, she took the game back up in her fifties and won trophies at the Pleasant Grove Rec Center. She took up oil painting in her later years and left behind many beautiful canvasses. She was a life-long member of the Church of Christ and she loved the Lord and read her bible daily. The family wishes to thank the staffs of Autumn Wind in Winnsboro, Autumn Leaves in Rockwall and Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Rockwall for their compassionate care. The family will receive friends at Laurel Land Funeral Home Thursday evening from 6:00-8:00 pm. Services will be in the Chapel of Laurel Land Funeral Home at. 12:00 pm Friday, September 12, with graveside services to follow. The family would like to encourage anyone attending the services to wear red, white or blue, Mattie's favorite colors, instead of black, in honor of a long life well-lived.