Lucille E. Loveless

Lucille E. Loveless was a woman who loved and cared for her family and looked to the needs of others. Whatever challenges she faced in life, she relied on inner strength and deep faith.

Lucile was born at a time when America was being drawn into the conflict in Europe. Men quickly stepped up to enlist in the war effort and women joined the country's work force. Families had come through the challenges of economic depression with a strong work ethic and a determination to make life better for their children. One such family was the Earl and Clara Bell (Whaling) Hinton family who raised 13 children on a farm near Lansing, Michigan. Later, they moved to Hesperia where Earl worked in a creamery and Clara busily cared for the children at home. While in Lansing, their lovely daughter Lucille Elaine was born on February 1, 1942. By the time Lucille reached school age, the family was living in Hesperia and she attended school there before completing her elementary education in the Grand Rapids Public School system. Life with twelve brothers and sisters was always active. Lucille had great fun with her siblings, whether she was reading Nancy Drew books to her younger sisters or trying to solve crossword puzzles. Throughout her youth, family was very important to Lucille, and in early adulthood Lucille was ready for a family of her own.

At the beginning of the 1960's, Lucille met a young man named Rex Loveless. They dated for some time and then, in the summer of 1963, Lucille and Rex were married in Daytona Beach, Florida. Soon they became the proud parents of five boys: Rex, Scott, James, Earl, and Jock. Lucille was a caring mother who gave of herself to her sons. Though her marriage ended after 14 years, Lucille was determined to support her family on her own. She landed a job with Teledyne Continental and worked to provide for her sons and also for the needs of others. It was characteristic of Lucille to stretch her hard-earned money to help those around her who had even less.

Lucille not only cared for her sons' financially, she also invested in their lives. When the boys were young, Lucille got involved in their little league teams. Each summer, they went camping as a family for a few weeks in Belair, Michigan. Even in recent years when Lucille moved to Florida for health reasons, she kept in close contact with her family. Over the past ten years, she got on the phone to talk regularly with her children and grandchildren.

Among the other pleasures of her life, Lucille liked going to flee markets and collecting old glassware and Precious Moments figurines. She played bingo and Monopoly, did jigsaw puzzles, and crocheted. Lucille also baked wonderful pies, bread, cookies, and cake and savored tasty dishes such as chicken and dumplings, wet burritos, fried chicken and rabbit, orange sorbet, and butter pecan ice cream. Such delights were best enjoyed to the tunes of Lucille's favorite artists, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash.

Lucille will be remembered as caring woman who lived her life for others. Even as her family mourns her, they can find comfort in the words of a familiar biblical song: Psalm 23.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever (KJV).

Lucille E. Loveless, age 64 of Kentwood, passed away December 27, 2006. She is survived by her sons Rex Loveless, James Loveless, Earl ( Sandy ) Loveless, and Jock Loveless; six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren. Also surviving are her brother Jim (Marilyn) Hinton; sisters Grace Hrist, Texanna Gann, Bernita (Harold) Hinton, and Ginger Nelson; and several nephews and nieces. A service to celebrate Lucille's life will be held on Saturday at 11 AM at Greater Life Pentecostal Church, 1667 Wilson Avenue SW with Rev. Dennis Kleiman officiating. Relatives and friends are invited to meet Lucille's family on Friday from 7-9 PM at Heritage Lifestory Funeral Home - Van Strien Creston Chapel, 1833 Plainfield NE. Contributions to a charity of one's choice are greatly appreciated. To read more about Lucille's life, to share a favorite photo or memory, or to sign the online registry, please use this website.