Obituary for Janelle Leverett
Lowell-Tims Funeral Home
1100 E. Tamarack Road
Altus, Oklahoma 73521
(580) 482-1233
LEVERETT
Janelle Austin Leverett was born in Weatherford, Oklahoma on June 4, 1934 and died peacefully on August 3, 2017 after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease. Janelle was the youngest daughter of Ed and Clara (Childers) Austin and grew up in Weatherford until she moved with her family to Altus in the 9th grade. She had fond memories of her growing up years and was especially appreciative of the quality early education she received, some of which came from the bright and eager line of student teachers from across town at Southwestern State College. Her favorite student teacher of all time was the one in 3rd grade when coincidentally, her big sister Ruth (Austin) Evans, was assigned to teach Janelle's class. Janelle decided early on that she wanted to be a public school teacher like her older siblings and never wavered from her love for and commitment to public education. Her numerous years of teaching 1st and 2nd grade at Will Rogers Elementary School in Altus were a source of great pride for her and she affectionately remembered the co-workers she enjoyed so much and the numerous students she blessed through the years. Janelle, looking back on her career, once wrote "I wish there had been more time. There were so many little lives that passed by on their way to America's future and so little time to influence them. I only hope that some of the lessons they learned from me, both academically and morally, stayed with them as they searched for fulfilment in their later years. If so, the twenty-five (25) years of love I poured into them was worth it". Janelle's peers recognized her teaching excellence by naming her Altus's Teacher of the Year in 1985.
While in college at Southwestern, Janelle married her high school sweetheart, Darill Leverett and they enjoyed sixty-two (62) wonderful years together. Shortly after marrying, Darill and Janelle were blessed with the joys and challenges of raising two (2) boys, Joe and Brad and Janelle spent the rest of her life pouring herself into them. She enjoyed her time as a mother and loved her boys, but she absolutely treasured her time as Nana. Sarah (Leverett) Charbonnet, Austin Leverett, Travis Leverett and Holly Leverett were her greatest joys in life. She dearly loved each of them and they adored their Nana just as much.
Janelle was a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church of Altus. She had an active and real faith which she lived out daily. She could be found early each morning drinking coffee, reading God's word and praying for her family and those she loved. It was that faith and her trust in Jesus Christ that got her and her family through the difficult years when the Alzheimer's began to take its toll. She realized she was promised a time of health and wholeness and that her short time of suffering here on earth would be far outweighed by her heavenly reward that was waiting.
Janelle was predeceased by her parents and all three (3) siblings: Doris Sides and husband Cliff, Ruth Evans and husband Herschell, and Dr. David Austin and wife Dr. Zuma Austin and a cousin and lifelong friend Holt Hickman. She is lovingly survived by her husband Darill of the home in Altus and sons: Dr. Joe Leverett and wife Kim of Altus, and their children Sarah Leverett Charbonnet and husband Cameron and their children Benjamin Leverett (BenRett) and Shepherd of Dallas, Texas and Austin Leverett and wife Jenny and their son Cooper of Altus, Oklahoma and son Brad Leverett and wife Robin of Altus and their children Travis Leverett of Houston, Texas and Holly Leverett of Edmond, Oklahoma.
She is also survived by her beloved brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Lynn and Paula Leverett of Abilene, Texas and a host of nieces and nephews she was very fond of, including: Suzette Sides of Sacramento, California; Stefanie Sides of Woodland, California; Mark Sides of Sacramento, California; Hersha Evans of Christiansburg, Virginia; Nancy Evans Crowley and husband Mike of Jupitor, Florida; Shelley Jones and husband Sheldon of West Chester, Pennsylvania; Tony Austin and wife Kristy of Heath, Texas; Jay Leverett and wife Doris of Amarillo, Texas; Lisa Leverett Rhodes and husband Ed of Abilene, Texas and Chris Leverett and wife Kelly of Dallas, Texas and Anita Potts also of Dallas, Texas. She is also survived by her cousin and lifelong friend Jo Hickman and her kids, Brad and Brenda of Ft. Worth, Texas and Darill's cousins Luene Lane of Canyon, Texas and Beth Boardman of Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Janelle was blessed in her life to have many close friends who loved her and continued to visit her even in her infirmity. She was also blessed to have the best care givers one could ever hope to have and the family so appreciated the loving care provided by: Lucille Pewett, Lisa Tinsley, Becca Cowart, Tina Myers, Jean Gallagher and Vonda Fields.
The family will greet friends from 5:30 until 7:00 pm, Sunday, August 6, 2017 at Lowell-Tims Funeral Home in Altus.
Services for Janelle will be Monday, August 7, 2017 at 1:00 at the First United Methodist Church in Altus with Reverend David Player.
In lieu of flowers, the family would respectfully request you make a donation in Janelle's honor to the First United Methodist Church of Altus or the Alzheimer's Association.
Arrangements under the direction of Lowell-Tims Funeral Home and Crematory, Altus, Oklahoma.
To sign the online guest book and share memories with the family please visit www.Lowell-Tims.com
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1100 E. Tamarack Road
Altus, Oklahoma 73521
(580) 482-1233
LEVERETT
Janelle Austin Leverett was born in Weatherford, Oklahoma on June 4, 1934 and died peacefully on August 3, 2017 after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease. Janelle was the youngest daughter of Ed and Clara (Childers) Austin and grew up in Weatherford until she moved with her family to Altus in the 9th grade. She had fond memories of her growing up years and was especially appreciative of the quality early education she received, some of which came from the bright and eager line of student teachers from across town at Southwestern State College. Her favorite student teacher of all time was the one in 3rd grade when coincidentally, her big sister Ruth (Austin) Evans, was assigned to teach Janelle's class. Janelle decided early on that she wanted to be a public school teacher like her older siblings and never wavered from her love for and commitment to public education. Her numerous years of teaching 1st and 2nd grade at Will Rogers Elementary School in Altus were a source of great pride for her and she affectionately remembered the co-workers she enjoyed so much and the numerous students she blessed through the years. Janelle, looking back on her career, once wrote "I wish there had been more time. There were so many little lives that passed by on their way to America's future and so little time to influence them. I only hope that some of the lessons they learned from me, both academically and morally, stayed with them as they searched for fulfilment in their later years. If so, the twenty-five (25) years of love I poured into them was worth it". Janelle's peers recognized her teaching excellence by naming her Altus's Teacher of the Year in 1985.
While in college at Southwestern, Janelle married her high school sweetheart, Darill Leverett and they enjoyed sixty-two (62) wonderful years together. Shortly after marrying, Darill and Janelle were blessed with the joys and challenges of raising two (2) boys, Joe and Brad and Janelle spent the rest of her life pouring herself into them. She enjoyed her time as a mother and loved her boys, but she absolutely treasured her time as Nana. Sarah (Leverett) Charbonnet, Austin Leverett, Travis Leverett and Holly Leverett were her greatest joys in life. She dearly loved each of them and they adored their Nana just as much.
Janelle was a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church of Altus. She had an active and real faith which she lived out daily. She could be found early each morning drinking coffee, reading God's word and praying for her family and those she loved. It was that faith and her trust in Jesus Christ that got her and her family through the difficult years when the Alzheimer's began to take its toll. She realized she was promised a time of health and wholeness and that her short time of suffering here on earth would be far outweighed by her heavenly reward that was waiting.
Janelle was predeceased by her parents and all three (3) siblings: Doris Sides and husband Cliff, Ruth Evans and husband Herschell, and Dr. David Austin and wife Dr. Zuma Austin and a cousin and lifelong friend Holt Hickman. She is lovingly survived by her husband Darill of the home in Altus and sons: Dr. Joe Leverett and wife Kim of Altus, and their children Sarah Leverett Charbonnet and husband Cameron and their children Benjamin Leverett (BenRett) and Shepherd of Dallas, Texas and Austin Leverett and wife Jenny and their son Cooper of Altus, Oklahoma and son Brad Leverett and wife Robin of Altus and their children Travis Leverett of Houston, Texas and Holly Leverett of Edmond, Oklahoma.
She is also survived by her beloved brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Lynn and Paula Leverett of Abilene, Texas and a host of nieces and nephews she was very fond of, including: Suzette Sides of Sacramento, California; Stefanie Sides of Woodland, California; Mark Sides of Sacramento, California; Hersha Evans of Christiansburg, Virginia; Nancy Evans Crowley and husband Mike of Jupitor, Florida; Shelley Jones and husband Sheldon of West Chester, Pennsylvania; Tony Austin and wife Kristy of Heath, Texas; Jay Leverett and wife Doris of Amarillo, Texas; Lisa Leverett Rhodes and husband Ed of Abilene, Texas and Chris Leverett and wife Kelly of Dallas, Texas and Anita Potts also of Dallas, Texas. She is also survived by her cousin and lifelong friend Jo Hickman and her kids, Brad and Brenda of Ft. Worth, Texas and Darill's cousins Luene Lane of Canyon, Texas and Beth Boardman of Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Janelle was blessed in her life to have many close friends who loved her and continued to visit her even in her infirmity. She was also blessed to have the best care givers one could ever hope to have and the family so appreciated the loving care provided by: Lucille Pewett, Lisa Tinsley, Becca Cowart, Tina Myers, Jean Gallagher and Vonda Fields.
The family will greet friends from 5:30 until 7:00 pm, Sunday, August 6, 2017 at Lowell-Tims Funeral Home in Altus.
Services for Janelle will be Monday, August 7, 2017 at 1:00 at the First United Methodist Church in Altus with Reverend David Player.
In lieu of flowers, the family would respectfully request you make a donation in Janelle's honor to the First United Methodist Church of Altus or the Alzheimer's Association.
Arrangements under the direction of Lowell-Tims Funeral Home and Crematory, Altus, Oklahoma.
To sign the online guest book and share memories with the family please visit www.Lowell-Tims.com
To send flowers in memory of Janelle Leverett, visit the Tribute Store.
Previous Events
Visitation
Sunday
6
Aug
5:30 PM
- 7:00 PM
Lowell-Tims Funeral Home in Altus
1100 East Tamarack Road
Altus, OK 73521
Funeral
Monday
7
Aug
1:00 PM
First United Methodist Church
Main Street
Blair, OK 73526
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