Loretta Van Cleave

Loretta Lucas Van Cleave, devoted wife, loving mother, and faithful friend, passed away peacefully on July 3 after an unexpected illness. Loretta was known for her deep and lasting relationships with her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was 71. Loretta was born in Dalhart, TX to C.C. and Zumie Lucas. A member of a large Dalhart family, she grew up in Dalhart and married her husband, Bob Van Cleave, on December 15, 1956. The couple lived in Kerrville, TX and Tennessee Colony, TX for a brief time, before moving to Tyler in 1963. Survivors include her husband of 53 years, her daughter and son-in-law Tamra and Travis Pierce of Tyler, her son and daughter-in-law Robert and Sharon Van Cleave of Dallas, her son and daughter-in-law Luke and Laurie Van Cleave of Johns Creek, GA and her daughter and son-in-law Karen and Mark Gruver of Dallas. She is also survived by nine grandchildren: Amy Egana, and her husband Gonzalo Egana, of Tyler, Matthew Young of Houston, TX, Braxton Van Cleave and Bailey Van Cleave, both of Dallas, Cameron Van Cleave and Timothy Van Cleave, both of Johns Creek, GA, and Christian Gruver, Caroline Gruver and Caleb Gruver, all of Dallas, and three great-grandchildren, Isabella Egana, Alexander Egana, and Sophia Egana, all of Tyler. She is also survived by her brother Gerald Lucas, of Phoenix, AZ, her sister Reola Bonugli, of Laredo, TX, her brother J.C. Lucas, of Dalhart, her sister Rose Combs, of Dalhart, her sister Stella Lundgren of Atascadero, CA, her sister Zona Allred of Charlottesville, VA, her sister Janice Lovelady and her husband, Lee Lovelady, of Dalhart, and her sister Kay Hume, and her husband James Hume, of Walsh, CO, and numerous nieces and nephews, and many loving friends. Loretta and Bob were founding members of Evangelical Methodist Church (now known as Grace Community Church) in Tyler. Loretta was an active participant in many of the church’s ministries, including organizing and leading numerous women’s bible studies and helping to found the Grace Community Women’s Center. She taught kindergarten and 2nd grade at Grace Community School for over 10 years. In addition to spending quality time with her family, puttering in the garden, and taking long walks, Loretta loved the opportunity to invest in the lives of people, as shown by her passion for teaching and ministering to the needs of those that God brought across her path. Loretta was an especially gifted writer of poetry, and her many poems are a testament to her love for her God, her family and her friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Virginia Lucas, her sister Florence Combs, and her brother, Edsel Lucas. Visitation will be at the Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Hwy in Tyler, on from 6:30–8:00 p.m. Wednesday evening, July 7. A service to honor God and celebrate Loretta’s life will be held at the Grace Community Church Old Jacksonville campus, 3215 Old Jacksonville Hwy, in Tyler on Thursday, July 8, at 10:00 a.m. A family graveside service will follow. In lieu of flowers or other gifts, please direct memorials to the Denise and Randy Ingram Account, c/o Mercy Ships International, P.O. Box 2020, Garden Valley, TX 75771, or to the Grace Community School Lower Campus Scholarship Fund, 3215 Old Jacksonville Hwy, Tyler, TX 75701. The family wishes to thank Loretta’s many friends for their encouraging words, support, and other acts of kindness during this difficult time. While we grieve our earthly loss, we are rejoicing with her as she now sees her Savior face-to-face, and all look forward to the time where we will join her in Glory. “Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling.”

Loretta Van Cleave

August 27, 1938 - July 3, 2010