Juanell Lovett

Juanell Lovett died Monday, December 17, 2012 in Traditions of Chillicothe. Born Alma Juanell Harper on Aug. 22, 1931 in Clovis, N.M., to Claude and Ruby Hurst Harper, she was the first of five children.

Thunder rolled, lightning lit up the sky and hail pounded the area at the moment of her passing, giving family members at her side reason to remember her mercurial personality.

In declining health for years, she held a special bond with her devoted husband Barry, and she never recovered from his death just three weeks prior. They were married on Aug. 28, 1949 in Clovis, N.M.

Known as Nonny to her grandchildren, she loved nothing more than spending time with the young members of her family. She spoke with extreme joy and pride of her great-grandsons.

Her love for children led her to work as a teacher's aide at Pioneer School in the 1970s; social worker for children's Services in Piqua, Ohio; and substitute positions at Unioto schools and Roweton Boys Ranch. She also worked as a social worker at prisons in Chillicothe and Lucasville.

In addition, she filled various church roles during her husband's years as a Southern Baptist pastor.

She was Mother of three, Grandmother of six and Great-grandmother of three.

She is survived by a son Jerry R. (Genia) Lovett, Hortonville, Wisconsin, and daughter Rita (Arthur) May, Chillicothe; two sisters, JoEllen Stewart, Wright City, Mo., and Kay (Bruce) Horton, St. Charles, Mo., and a brother, Stanley (Linda) Harper, Dallas Texas. She is also survived by grandchildren Jarod Lovett, Levi Lovett, Virginia (Brian) May Wallace, Joanne (Anthony) May Austin, Holly May and Abraham May; and by great-grandchildren Tyler Lovett, Isaac Austin and Owen May.

She was predeceased by her parents, Husband Barry, Son Lloyd, and Brother Don.

A memorial service will be 1 p.m. Saturday, December 29, at Frankfort Baptist Church.