Loretta G. Lovelace, 94, of Mustang, OK, passed away Wednesday, August 5, 2020. A Wake and Rosary service will be held at 6:30 p.m., Monday, August 10 at the Yanda & Son Funeral Home Chapel, Yukon. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, August 11 at St. John Neopmuk Catholic Church, Yukon, with interment following at 3:30 p.m., at Anthon Cemetery, Anthon, OK.
Loretta was born on the family farm in Anthon, OK on December 9, 1925, to Pete and Barbara (Gassen) Klein. Loretta grew up in a large family with nine siblings. She worked hard on the farm and carried that work ethic throughout her life. She graduated from Independence High School in 1943. After graduation, Loretta went to work for the Phone Company in Clinton, OK, transferring to an office in Oklahoma City in 1978, where she continued to work until her retirement after almost 40 years of service. Following retirement with AT&T she cleaned homes and found joy working on the Election Board.
On October 28, 1950 she married Paul U. Lovelace and together they had 4 children: Larry, Loren (Bo), Beverly (died in infancy) and Judy. Paul and Loretta later divorced.
Loretta loved flowers and was a master gardener and found joy working in her gardens. Her gardens rivaled that of Botanical gardens, with the most beautiful flowers. She also loved to sew, cook and work word search puzzles. She loved to travel, covering many states including traveling down old Route 66 from Oklahoma to California when her family was young. In later years she traveled to Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico, Texas, Missouri and Arkansas just to name a few. Loretta’s travels also took her to foreign lands when she traveled to Germany and Holland to visit family in her ancestral homeland. Her last travel was in 2018 to Bay City, Texas to visit her cousin. It was a trip awarded to her by Wish of a Lifetime Org.
Loretta’s Catholic faith was always very important to her, and from where she drew strength. She attended Mass regularly at St. John Nepomuk in Yukon for over 40 years where she was also a member of the Ladies Auxiliary. She also went on multiple religious pilgrimages traveling with family to Sante Fe, NM and other states for spiritual reasons.
She was a member of the Yukon Senior Citizen Center where she loved to eat lunch and then play bingo with friends.
Of all of the things Loretta loved, family was at the top of her list. She loved going to family reunions to visit family that she didn’t get to see often. She told stories, laughed, and made others laugh as well. She was one of those people that was loved by all, had a heart of gold and would go out of her way to help anyone in need.
She loved family and friends and having company come to her home to visit. Loretta especially loved and welcomed her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren into her home; they were her life. She looked forward to those special times like holidays and family get togethers. Watching her grandchildren and great grandchildren compete in sports brought so much joy to her life.
Loretta was preceded in death by her parents, Pete Q. Klein and Barbara Gassen Klein; infant daughter, Beverly; Ex-husband, Paul U. Lovelace Jr.; 9 siblings, Christine, Barbara, Agatha, Genevieve, Hilda, Elizabeth, Carolyn, Pete and Adolph; and grandson, Nathan Clay Lovelace.
Loretta is survived by son, Larry and wife Bonnie of Helena, Mt.; grandchildren: Katy and Roy Poser and greatgrandchild baby Colton Thomas (due September 2), Lara Lovelace and Travis Nelson; son, Loren (Bo) Lovelace and wife Jan of Claremore, OK; daughter, Judy Kinney and husband Ted of Mustang, OK; grandchildren: Justin Anderson and wife Michelle of Oklahoma City, OK, and great grandsons, Keller and Kaleb; grandson, Theo Kinney and Meagan Gloss of Westminster, CO, granddaughter, Krystle Rodriguez and husband Ivan of Mustang, OK, and great grandchildren, Lucas, Madilyn, and Sophia Rodriguez.
Online condolences may be signed at yandafuneral. com. Arrangements are under the direction of Yanda & Son Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Yukon, OK.