Lola Mae Dear
April 23, 1927 — January 23, 2025
Lola Mae Dear, of the Pleasant Valley community, went to be with the Lord Thursday, January 23, 2025. She was the widow of Gene Dear who died in 2015; they were married sixty-nine years. Lola was born in Waurika, Oklahoma, April 23, 1927, to the late H.F. and Julia Wood Dean of Oklahoma and Wooster, AR. Her brothers, Bernard Dean of Ardmore, OK and Leonard Dean of Duncan, OK preceded her in death, as well as a sister-in-law, Elaine Dear Smart of Comanche, OK. She often talked about missing her son-in-law, Ronnie Hall of Greenbrier, AR who left us in 2021.
Lola was recognized as a great cook, and you could not escape her home without being fed something. This continued in her “home” room in the Greenbrier Nursing and Rehab Center where everyone was encouraged to select from her blue bowl of candy and goodies. She was a giving person and she loved doing for others. She told of being a teen during WWII, learning to drink her iced tea unsweetened, and saving her share of the family sugar ration to bake the family a cake.
In 1945, she met a girlfriend’s handsome brother who was home on leave from the army after serving three years in Europe. As Gene told the story, for him it was love at first sight. They married in June of 1946 and during their 69 years together, they opened a hatchery which became a feed and grain business in Comanche, OK, then in 1957 they moved the family to Greenbrier, AR to run cattle on their farm in Pleasant Valley.
Lola was known for her smiles and her love for studying the Bible and sharing with the many classes she led over the years at Wooster First Baptist, Wooster, AR. She was always willing to step up and do the work needed. She worked for ARChem as office manager for many years.
She is survived by her son, Steve Dear (Susan) of Conway; and daughter, Glenda Hall of Greenbrier; her grandchildren; Rhonda Zellner of Conway, Kathryn Weaver (Tony) of Conway, David Hall of Greenbrier, Sam Hall (Lauren) of Houston, TX, Lauren Dear Agee (Roy) of Conway, and Mackenzie Dear (Nick Hamilton) of St. Louis, MO. She is also survived by 14 great-grandchildren and a great-great-granddaughter. She also leaves behind her loving nieces and nephews with whom she continued to maintain a close relationship.
Funeral services will be 2:00 pm Tuesday, January 28, 2025 at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, Greenbrier.
A visitation will be held prior to the service at 1:00 pm. Burial will follow in Pleasant Valley Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be David Hall, Sam Hall, Tony Weaver, Roy Agee, Nick Hamilton, and Luke Zellner.
Lola was recognized as a great cook, and you could not escape her home without being fed something. This continued in her “home” room in the Greenbrier Nursing and Rehab Center where everyone was encouraged to select from her blue bowl of candy and goodies. She was a giving person and she loved doing for others. She told of being a teen during WWII, learning to drink her iced tea unsweetened, and saving her share of the family sugar ration to bake the family a cake.
In 1945, she met a girlfriend’s handsome brother who was home on leave from the army after serving three years in Europe. As Gene told the story, for him it was love at first sight. They married in June of 1946 and during their 69 years together, they opened a hatchery which became a feed and grain business in Comanche, OK, then in 1957 they moved the family to Greenbrier, AR to run cattle on their farm in Pleasant Valley.
Lola was known for her smiles and her love for studying the Bible and sharing with the many classes she led over the years at Wooster First Baptist, Wooster, AR. She was always willing to step up and do the work needed. She worked for ARChem as office manager for many years.
She is survived by her son, Steve Dear (Susan) of Conway; and daughter, Glenda Hall of Greenbrier; her grandchildren; Rhonda Zellner of Conway, Kathryn Weaver (Tony) of Conway, David Hall of Greenbrier, Sam Hall (Lauren) of Houston, TX, Lauren Dear Agee (Roy) of Conway, and Mackenzie Dear (Nick Hamilton) of St. Louis, MO. She is also survived by 14 great-grandchildren and a great-great-granddaughter. She also leaves behind her loving nieces and nephews with whom she continued to maintain a close relationship.
Funeral services will be 2:00 pm Tuesday, January 28, 2025 at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, Greenbrier.
A visitation will be held prior to the service at 1:00 pm. Burial will follow in Pleasant Valley Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be David Hall, Sam Hall, Tony Weaver, Roy Agee, Nick Hamilton, and Luke Zellner.
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