Aulene H. Kanakis, age 94, Joplin, passed away Wednesday, November 13, 2019 at her home after a long illness.
Aulene was born July 27, 1925 in Trumann, Arkansas to the late Aubrey Holiman and Minnie Ola Duncan Holiman. She had lived in Little Rock, Arkansas; Decatur, Illinois; and Monmouth, Illinois before moving to Joplin in 1963.
Aulene graduated from Sheridan (Arkansas) High School and attended Henderson State Teachers College, Arkadelphia, Arkansas. She was working as a secretary at the Nash Automotive Dealership in Little Rock, Arkansas, when she met her husband, Louis, because he had just purchased a new Nash vehicle!
Aulene was a longtime and faithful member of First Baptist Church of Joplin. She was active with church council and committees; a Women’s Missionary Union leader; a Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and GA's teacher; and served as a Sunday worship greeter. Raised a Christian, she dedicated her life to serving her Lord and Savior, and raising her family.
Aulene loved to travel, both in the United States and to foreign countries. Perhaps this started with her young girl's dreams of maybe becoming a flight attendant on airlines. After raising their sons and in retirement, she and her husband took up RV-ing, and traveled extensively across the United States. In her later years, she loved planning trips and traveling to faraway lands with her brothers and sister.
She was a Golden Girl member of the PEO Sisterhood, Chapter GA; past president of the Carl Junction PTA and served as secretary of the Carl Junction School Board.
When not working in the church or traveling, she thoroughly enjoyed playing bridge with her friends and groups as a social activity, and she turned out to be a pretty crafty bridge player. She certainly enjoyed watching each of her sons participate in whatever they were interested in at that time in their lives and relished each of their individual achievements.
Aulene married Louis Kanakis on February 16, 1947 in Sheridan, Arkansas. He preceded her in death on January 1, 1988.
Survivors include four sons, Nick Kanakis and wife, Dee, Joplin, Lee Kanakis, Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Jim Kanakis and wife, Rayla, Webb City, Mark Kanakis, Joplin; three grandchildren, Robert Kanakis and wife, Mandy, Joplin, Karen Kanakis and husband, Jacob Lassetter, St. Louis, Missouri, Alex Kanakis and wife, Ashley, Kansas City, Missouri; great granddaughter, Ashlyn Kanakis, Joplin; a sister, Bette Williams and husband, Arnold, Fayetteville, Arkansas; mother-in-law, Mildred Kanakis, Alleene, Arkansas; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, Aulene was preceded in death by a sister, Ann Holiman; and two brothers, Bob and John Holiman.
Services are planned for Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at Parker Mortuary Chapel. Steve Patterson, will officiate. Interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery with Rev. Jamie Tickel, officiating. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until service time at the mortuary. Pallbearers are Jim Allan, Tom Bryant, Dr. Jim Dryden, Jason Gilreath, Barry Huff, and Leon Shumaker, with honorary pallbearers Dr. Herb McDonald and Dr. Mitch Stinnett. Memorial contributions may be made to Crosslines, in care of Parker Mortuary.
Arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary.
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