Greta Ganell Hall

Greta Ganell Hall, age 90 went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, November 30, 2020. Greta was born September 14, 1930, in Stilson, Georgia, Bulloch County, to parents Homer C. McElveen and Mollie Pearl McElveen (Brannan). Greta was the 5th of 7 children. She grew up in the small town of Stilson, in Bulloch County Georgia. Both sides of her family had deep roots there going back to the 1700’s. Greta was an active young person and enjoyed outside activities like going to the beach. She played basketball in high school and loved home economics. After high school graduation she attended Georgia’s Teacher College and started working for Liberty Bank and Trust of Savannah, Georgia and also worked in the Taliaferro Baptist Mission, an extension of Bull Street Baptist Church in Savannah. She was a dedicated worker with glowing references for her reliability and hard work. While she was going to school, working and serving in Savannah, her brother-in-law, Towns Kohn, talked her into moving to Dallas with him and her sister Alva for a while. As Aunty Alva said, “Uncle T.L. was always trying to get her siblings to live with them; she said he just loved her family.” Once she got to Dallas, Texas, she started working at an investment firm and taking classes at Southern Methodist University. She met James, the love of her life for 67 years on a blind date. They were married April 22, 1953 in Lakeside Baptist Church in Dallas. She had a total of five children, 2 that died prior to childbirth, a son and two daughters. After living in Dallas, Oklahoma City, Kansas then back to Oklahoma City. Her and James bought 30 acres on the outskirts of Oklahoma City and raised a few cattle. She had plenty stories to tell and it was an adventure, especially when it came to her husband, James.

Greta was an active member in Oakdale Baptist Church (formerly Witcher Baptist Church) for over 40 plus years. She was member/leader in Bible Study Fellowship for many years and knew her Bible inside and out. She served alongside her husband in the Southern Baptist Foreign Missions Board, Optimist Club and Pioneer Club. She was a very present mom in all her kids’ activities while managing a 30 acre rural project that her and her dear sweet husband had purchased. She never missed her kid’s events and always had a dinner at the table and listened to the stories of the day. Greta and James loved to travel with her brothers and sisters and had many wonderful times and memories.

Her pride and joy were her grandchildren. Nana and Grandad took lots of trips with them every summer. They would plan out their excursions and had the best times. Nana was a constant in each and every one of their lives. They knew they could count on her, whether it was for some good food or just to listen to them, she loved her grandbabies!

The last few years of her life she was a constant companion and caretaker to her husband Jim. They had been married for 67 years. She loved him dearly and watched over him with a devotion that few knew. Her heart broke the day he died, and 10 days later she joined him. She said many times that they had lived a great life and she had no regrets. She was a great role model and friend to so many people. She will be dearly missed.

Greta is survived by her Son and Daughter-in-law James and Terri Hall of Oklahoma City, Daughter and Son-in-law Lonnie Lillard of Oklahoma City, Daughter and Son-in-law Rebecca and Brian Medeiros of Oklahoma City. Her 7 grandkids, James and Morgan Dyer of Edmond, Oklahoma, Nelson and Courtni Medeiros of San Antonio , TX, Nathan Apple and wife Brandalyn of Moore, OK, Zachary Medeiros and fiancé’ Amber of Guthrie, OK, Laramie Hall of Oklahoma City, Luke Medeiros of Oklahoma City, Peyton Medeiros of Oklahoma City, Lori and Trent Bishop of Lewisville, Texas. Great grandchild, Hailey Olivas of Lewisville, TX, Elliott Apple of Moore, OK and one future great grandchild Medeiros of San Antonio, TX, Sister, Alva Kohn of Louisville, KY, Brother, Emerson McElveen of Bullard, TX, as well as many nieces and nephews and wonderful friends.

Greta is preceded in death by her husband, James Hall of 67 years, 2 children, Parents, Homer C. and Mollie Pearl McElveen, her Sister Mertie McElveen, Brother Franklin McElveen, Brother and Sister-in-law Harold and Ginny McElveen, Brother and Sister-in-law Elwood and Anna Jo McElveen, Brother-in-law Towns L. Kohn, Sister-in-law Thelma McElveen, Brother and sister-in-law Jack and Mary (Hall) Lynch, Brother and sister-in-law Wayne and Donna (Hall) Holcomb, Brother and sister-in-law Bill and Pat (Hall) Childs, Sister-in-law Caroline Hall.