Ollie LaVelle Wilson

After a brief illness, Lavelle Wilson, of Fort Sumner, NM, passed away peacefully with family members at her side on December 18, 2016 in Lubbock, Texas. Lavelle would have turned 84 years old just three days later on winter solstice.

She was born on December 21, 1932 in Fort Sumner, NM to Claude James and Vesta Bea Stephens Edwards. Lavelle was a 1950 graduate of Fort Sumner High School. She was employed by several Fort Sumner businesses upon graduation which included Howe Drugstore, The Citizens Bank and Valley Feed and Grain. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Fort Sumner.

She married her high school sweetheart, James W. (JW) Wilson, on June 9, 1952 in the First United Methodist Church in Fort Sumner. In 1953, she moved with JW to Pensacola, FL where JW was stationed in the U.S. Coast Guard. She was employed by another bank in Warrington, FL while living in Pensacola. When JW was transferred to Mobile, AL, Lavelle was employed at Loop National Bank. Lavelle and JW returned to Fort Sumner in October 1956 and made Fort Sumner their home until August 2015. Lavelle was employed by the Fort Sumner School District as high school secretary for 24 years until her retirement in August 1991. She always joked that training new high school principals was part of her job description during her tenure at the high school.

After retirement, she and JW traveled in their campers and enjoyed meeting new friends, camping, fishing and sight seeing trips. Lavelle loved her family very much and they were important to her. She enjoyed Fox and Vixen athletic events, bowling, garage sales and her friends. Her greatest enjoyment was being with and around the many young students that attended and graduated from Fort Sumner High School.

Lavelle was preceded in death by her husband JW, her parents, five brothers (Homer Edwards, Jody Edwards, Roy Edwards, Dalton Edwards and Shelton Edwards) and three sisters (a stillborn, Odessa Sims and Ada Mae Defoor). She is survived by her three sons, Steve Wilson (LeAnn) of Casper, WY, John Wilson of Roswell, NM and Quintin Wilson (Brenda) of Hobbs, NM; six grandchildren, Jarrett (Jill) Wilson and Derek Wilson of Casper, WY, Manda (Andrew) Olivas of Organ, NM, Tanner Hightower Wilson of Lubbock, TX, Tyler Hightower Wilson of Hobbs, NM, and Halli Hightower Wilson of Hobbs, NM; and three great grandchildren Jaden, Analiyah and Andrew Jr. Olivas. Lavelle is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and in-laws.

Cremation has taken place at Resthaven Funeral Home in Lubbock, TX. To place an online tribute or sign the guest book, go to www.ResthavenFuneralHome.com. Once the snow melts, a private memorial service will be held next spring at Lavelle and JW’s favorite pristine camping and hunting destination. The family requests any memorial contributions be directed to the Fort Sumner Senior Center, PO Box 180, Fort Sumner, NM 88119 in memory of Lavelle and JW Wilson. Arrangements under the direction of Resthaven Funeral Home & Memorial Park, Lubbock, TX.