Services held for Marie Lovelave
Verna Marie Lovelace was born to Mose and Clara Henderson on April 12, 1931 in Norman, Oklahoma.
She attended schools at Little Axe and Norman, and graduated from Norman High School at age 16, in 1947. After graduation, she studied at the Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft Worth, Texas, before returning to Oklahoma to accept a position at the American Telephone and Telegraph Company.
While at AT&T she met a handsome young civilian employee at Tinker AFB who swept her off her feet. Marie and Salathiel (Tom) Lovelace were married May 30,1953, at First Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and proceeded to share more than sixty-eight years of joy, adventure, and unceasing devotion to each other. During Tom’s career as an officer in the U.S. Army, Marie served graciously at his side at Army Posts all over the world, including Germany and Korea. While Tom served in Vietnam, she raised their children alone while praying for his safe return. When Tom went to work for the Oklahoma Department of Corrections after his retirement from the Army, Marie once again cheerfully made homes for her family wherever Tom’s duties took him. In addition to her love of the Lord and her devotion to her husband, Marie’s greatest joys in life were her five children, 19 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. She was always there for her ever-growing family and took immense pride in both their earthly accomplishments and commitments to the Lord. A shining example to all who knew and loved her.
Marie was preceded in death by her parents; granddaughter Marie Gladwell; grandson Tom Lovelace; great-grandson James Morgan; ten brothers, and one sister.
She is survived by Salathiel Tom Lovelace, her husband of over 68 years; her children Dr. Larry Lovelace and his wife Robin of Oklahoma City, Caren Fichtel and her husband Mike of Norman, Melissa Morgan and her husband Mark, of Rogers, Arkansas, Dr. David Lovelace and his wife Tammie, of Durant, and Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Brad Lovelace and his wife Athena of Oklahoma City, in addition to their children and grandchildren. Also surviving is her sister Betty Hunt of Riverside, California.
She will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her, including her many friends and her Sunday School class at Southern Hills Baptist Church, where she was a member for many years. In the hearts of her family and friends, Marie gave earthly truth to Proverbs 31:26: She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
Viewing will be 3:00 to 5:00 PM Sunday, January 16 th , at Vondel Smith Southlakes, 4000 SW 119th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73170.
Funeral service will be 11:00 AM Monday, January 17, 2022 at Southern Hills Baptist Church, 8601 S. Pennsylvania, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Graveside service and committal will be 3:00 PM Monday, January 17 th , at Holdenville Cemetery, Holdenville, Oklahoma.
Services are under the direction of Hudson-Phillips Funeral Home, Holdenville, Oklahoma.
