Lucille Parris Lynch

She was preceded in death by her husband Jimmy, mother Mable, father Ira, brother Russel, sisters Edith, Lorena, Helen, and Lena Mae. Survived by sister Irene Belyeu; Children: Kenneth, his wife Marilyn, and Richard; Grandchildren: Shellie Lynch, Grant Lynch, his wife Ashlie, Cameron Lynch, Kendall Lynch, and great grandson Kai Lynch.

Lucille was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma on December 8 1920. Lucille grew up on a farm with her six siblings and parents in a three-room log house. She had fond memories of growing up on the farm where she became an avid gardener. She continued her love of gardening the rest of her life.

Growing up on the farm her duty was to take care of her younger sisters, known as “the babies." She would sew clothing from the colorful flour sacks that were popular at that time. She loved to read; her mother would often warn her, "don't start reading; you will burn dinner." She was also responsible for cutting wood for the one stove that the family used for heat, for cooking, heating water for baths, and washing pots.

When Lucille was fourteen, her father died in November 1935, just months after the 1935 Black Sunday dust storm. There had been a severe drought the last few years, now they had no crops, no food, and no father. Lucille made it through the 10th grade before quitting and going to work to help with the expenses on the farm. She later completed high school through correspondence courses.

She had several jobs, including working at the Doulas Aircraft plant in Oklahoma City, before ending up at Crown Drug Store in Tulsa, where she met her future husband Jimmy Lynch.

Lucille and Jimmy were married in June of 1955, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They soon moved to Carlsbad, New Mexico. Jimmy worked as a pharmacist, and Lucille was able to stay home. They attended Riverside Assembly of God. Both of their sons, James Kenneth and Richard Wayne, were born in Carlsbad.

In 1962 the family moved to Dallas, Texas, where Jimmy had a job with the Ward Drug Company, where he continued to work as a pharmacist. Lucille stayed home, raised the boys, and was very involved with the boy’s schools. She was a Lifetime Member of the P.T.A. She also loved the church.

Lucille and Jimmy loved to travel. They would take the boys on a three or four-week vacation every four years and a two-week vacation every year. There were a lot of car trips, seeing the United States. Another joy in their lives were their grandchildren. They never missed a sports game, concert, or school production. Lucille and Jimmy were always available for babysitting, play dates, and sick-child care.

After the death of her father-in-law, Lucille took care of her mother-in-law for her for 13 years. After Jimmy’s death, Lucille continued to live at home with her son Richard until she had to go into the hospital a few days before her death. She always said she would live to be one hundred and live as long as her life-long friend Mertie, who lived for 101 years and 3 months. At 101 and one month, she almost made it.

God blessed Lucille with a long and eventful life. The last 101 years have seen some of the greatest changes the world has ever known, yet she lived her life following the Biblical scriptures that are over two thousand years old.

Deuteronomy 5:33, “You shall walk in all the way which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you will possess.”