Oleta Chisum Lovell

When Oleta Chisum Lovell walked into the room, those in her company felt energy, an enthusiastic spontaneity. This was just one example of who Oleta was and how she impacted those around her. Oleta was a clever and gregarious person who always sought out the finest attributes in other people. It was as if Oleta wanted to share all of their experiences, revel in their lives and celebrate their discoveries. Oleta was tireless and had boundless enthusiasm that would serve her well throughout her life.

      Oleta was born on August 12, 1943 at Shattuck Clinic in Shattuck, Oklahoma. She was the daughter of Marshal and Ozella Chisum. Oleta was raised in Dalhart, Texas. Always at the ready with a good joke, she grew up to be quite a humorous person. While some who knew Oleta might describe her as an idealist, her friends and family understood well that Oleta was always in pursuit of life’s endless possibilities and opportunities available to her.

      Oleta was raised with three older brothers Troy, Curtis, and Buck. Oleta was very accepting and supportive of her family. She was perceived as the central person in her family in terms of keeping communication open between the family members. Whenever discord or tension arose within the home, Oleta was typically the member who brought about resolution and harmony. These traits served Oleta well in her adult life and, along with her wit, outgoing personality, and understanding of others, drew the admiration of many who knew her.

      As a young girl, Oleta was able to empathize and identify with a vast array of people and personality types. This quality drew her into a diverse group of friends and acquaintances. Oleta was intelligent and had little trouble getting along with her peers. She was almost always the first to jump in when it came to playing games or participating in other childhood activities. She was a member of 4-H club and FHA club. In her spare time she liked sewing and cooking. Oleta's memorable achievements included President of 4-H club and went to State Competition. Oleta had the ability to find amusement with almost any activity she and the many childhood friends she shared might discover.

      During her high school years, Oleta responded enthusiastically to any new project and was regularly in search of one adventure after another. She graduated from Dalhart High School in 1961. Oleta was a very good student, and generally did well in her courses. Oleta absorbed as much as she could from all of her teachers and was consistently able to tackle conceptual and abstract problems, using her imagination to master her assignments. For Oleta, school often became just an extension of playtime, thanks to her ability to turn just about anything into a game. Classmates considered Oleta a good listener, knowing that when necessary, they could go to her to discuss just about anything. Her favorite class in high school was Home Economics. She was president of her High School 4-H club.

      Oleta did well in college, as a result of her comfort level with tackling new theories and her love of learning. She graduated from Abilene Christian University in 1964 with a B.S. in Home Economics. Her favorite course was Bible. Her favorite professor was Dr. Paul Faulkner. She was in Community Services Organization (CSO). Oleta was very adaptable, a quality that helped her make the transition from high school to college with little difficulty. As a result, Oleta's problem solving skills and thirst for new knowledge almost guaranteed that she enjoyed virtually every class she took. Oleta was always in quest of new things to learn and experience

      With a talent for making acquaintances easily which in turn brought her an endless stream of friends, Oleta was very sociable and could blend without effort into any social group. Assertive and outgoing, Oleta was easy to know and demonstrated a deep concern for others. She always seemed aware of what was going on with people around her and throughout her life she made many, many friends. While growing up, some of her best friends were Elizabeth Hubanks, Carol Ayres Marity, and Cheryl Butler. Later in life, she became friends withBill and Barbara New, Jerry and Glenda Fleming, John and Jan Michener, John and Kay Ivey, Alan and Jerri McDowell, Bill and Nancy Sartain, Linda Letz, Mary Gaines, Jean Ashwell, Pat Hodgson, and Dale Hodgson.

      On December 28, 1965 Oleta married Troy Lynn Lovell at Dalhart Church of Christ in Dalhart, Texas. Oleta's skill at “building bridges” played an important role in her ability to make her new family happy. She was quite sensitive towards Lynn's needs, showing her constant concern and fondness. Oleta was tenderhearted and sensitive, qualities that served her well in helping to nurture her family.

      Oleta was a natural and creative parent who was willing to provide her family with all sorts of new and interesting experiences. For Oleta, parenting was a particularly enjoyable and pleasurable part of her life. Every activity, from chores to bedtime routines, became a game in the Lovell home. Oleta's skill at understanding her children's feelings, her sensitivity to their needs, and her gift for gentle persuasion enabled her to find novel solutions to any problem or situation that might crop up. Oleta was blessed with one son Ty, and two daughters Lyndy, and Lexi. They were also blessed with twelve grandchildren, Madeline, Samuel, Tomlyn, Lee, Ariel, Joshua, Joah, Jonathan, Grace, Mia, Caleb, and Isaiah whom preceded Oleta in death.

      Oleta was uplifted by new ideas and was excited by life’s possibilities, traits that made her an exceptional worker. She was a school teacher and house wife. She worked for Crosyton ISD for 3 years and Fort Worth Christian School for 8 years. Oleta was enterprising, inventive and working against deadlines seemed to energize her. Oleta had the uncanny ability to identify a win/win solution to just about any problem, possibly because of her gift for insight. Oleta's fellow workers saw her as a supporter and a mentor.

      Oleta derived much satisfaction from participating in and watching sports. Her charisma, supportive nature and ability to improvise when called upon to do so all made perfect attributes for enjoying a great many sporting activities. Oleta was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching her favorite events whenever she got the opportunity. Tops on her list were baseball, basketball, and football.

      Throughout her life, Oleta was actively involved in professional and community organizations. She was compassionate, accommodating and quick to move into action. Always able to build a consensus, Oleta seemed to be the person smack dab in the middle of things, working to get things done. Those who had the opportunity to work with Oleta usually agreed that when you were involved in an organization with her, it was as entertaining as anything you could imagine. In high school, Oleta was a member of the 4-H and FHA. In college, Oleta joined the CSO. Throughout her later years, Oleta was an active member of the President of PTA.

      Because Oleta was constantly in the center of things and where the action was, she always seemed willing to join in and help, regularly getting involved in community activities. Oleta's gift of planning and improvisation, along with a talent for rallying support, made her a great asset. Oleta found new ways of getting things done in order to help make just about every activity more efficient and enjoyable. Politically, Oleta was a Republican.

      Oleta was a woman who was dedicated and devoted to her faith. She was a member The Hills Church of Christ in North Richland Hills, Texas. She taught 6th grade for 15 years and the young married class for 15 years. She was sympathetic and able to empathize with others and she used these qualities to the fullest while working tirelessly for her beliefs.

      Oleta's love of improvising in her daily life was a perfect fit for her enjoyment of traveling. Her favorite vacations were ones that were not planned. Traveling in a casual manor fit her personality well. Excited about seeing changing scenery and constantly looking for the enjoyment life could offer, Oleta took her vacations seriously, well, as seriously as she possibly could. Favorite vacations included Colorado, New Mexico, Arkansas, and an Alaskan Cruise.

       She adapted and, like everything in her life, made it satisfying. Because she was such a flexible person and able to adjust to any situation, retirement was just another enjoyable change of pace for Oleta to master. In retirement, she found new pleasure in Bridge, Ladies Bible Class, Birthday Club, Royal Family Kids Camp. Even in retirement, Oleta continued to stay in touch with her old friends and like always, made plenty of new ones.

      Oleta Lovell passed away on December 1, 2016 at HEB Harris Hopsital in Bedford, Texas. Oleta fought a long battle with diabetes she also had renal failure and heart issues. She is survived by her husband of almost 51 years, Lynn Lovell; son, Ty Lovell and wife Rachel; daughters, Lyndy Pinkston and husband Connan; Lexi Tubbs and husband Dean; grandchildren, Madeline, Samuel, Tomlyn, Lee, and Ariel Lovell; Joshua, Joah, and Jonathan Pinkston; Grace, Mia, and Caleb Tubbs; numerous other relatives and many special friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Marshal and Ozella Chisum and three brothers, Troy, Curtis, and Buck Chisum; and grandson Isaiah Lovell.

Services were held at The Hills Church of Christ in North Richland Hills, Texas. Oleta was laid to rest in Bluebonent Hills Memorial Park in Colleyville, Texas.

      There was always a certain style and inventiveness to Oleta. She was a dynamic, self-expressive person who was forever looking to celebrate the endless possibilities life had to offer. She had a knack for being clever, creative and witty, and for others, was a joy to be around. While she was often fiercely independent, it seemed as if many others looked to Oleta Lovell for inspiration, leadership, wisdom and even courage. Oleta was always more than willing to share life’s experiences with her loved ones.

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Oleta Madeline Chisum Lovell, age 73, of Hurst, Texas, was born August 12, 1943, and went to be with Jesus her Savior, on Thursday, December 1, 2016. Memorials: Please send any memorial donations to Our Father's Children Ministry;6250 NE Loop 820, Fort Worth, TX. 76180. She was a graduate of Dalhart High School and Abilene Christian University. While teaching home economics at Crosbyton, Texas, she married Lynn Lovell on December 28, 1965, and they moved to the Hurst area in 1968. Oleta was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and friend who loved life and people to the fullest and brought joy and laughter everywhere she went. As a beautiful, Spirit led follower of Jesus, she leaves a legacy as an extraordinary bible class teacher of 6th graders to young married couples at the Hills Church of Christ. She also spent many years as a teacher of home economics. No one entered her home without feeling loved and important. Her cooking was legendary, matched only by her bigger than life personality that caused people to believe that “they were her favorite.” There was always joy, fun, laughter and gifts to be experienced at “grandmama's” house. She was also Grandma “O” to 100's of abused and neglected girls who found Christ's love during her famous Tea Parties at the annual Royal Family Kid's Camp in East Texas. She dearly loved and cherished her family, friends, birthday club, community group, bible study class, and most of all her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She treasured spending time with her husband of over 50 years, and vacations with family in the mountains of Colorado and New Mexico. Oleta and Lynn, along with their three children, their spouses, and eleven grandkids experienced one of the highlights of her life on a 50th Anniversary Alaskan cruise in 2015. Survivors: Her husband of almost 51 years, Lynn Lovell; son, Ty Lovell and wife Rachel; daughters, Lyndy Pinkston and husband Connan; Lexi Tubbs and husband Dean; grandchildren, Madeline, Samuel, Tomlyn, Lee, and Ariel Lovell; Joshua, Joah, and Jonathan Pinkston; Grace, Mia, and Caleb Tubbs; numerous other relatives and many special friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Marshal and Ozella Chisum and three brothers, Troy, Curtis, and Buck Chisum; and grandson Isaiah Lovell.