Loralee Smith Justus

1938 - 2024

Loralee Smith Justus

August 18, 1938 - August 9, 2024

ELKO - Loralee Smith Justus passed away peacefully at home on August 9, 2024, surrounded by family. She was a beloved mom, aunt, grandma, teacher, and friend.

Born in Los Angeles, California in 1938, she was raised in Nevada and called it home throughout the greater part of her life.

Moving from Los Angeles, the Smith family established themselves in Gabbs, Nevada - here, Loralee's father owned a grocery store, a trucking company, and a booming mining company. Loralee, her sister Linda, and their four cousins attended elementary school and high school in Gabbs. Loralee graduated from Gabbs High School in 1956, and continued her education at the University of Nevada, Reno. During her time as a home economics major, Loralee was an active and beloved member of the UNR community - she was a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority with her sister Linda and was elected UNR Military Ball queen in 1959.

Upon graduating from UNR in 1960, Loralee pursued her passion for developing and helping her community by becoming a teacher in Carmel, California. Carmel held a special place in her heart - she was surrounded by many friends here and it is where she ultimately realized her love and talent for teaching.

On a visit from Carmel to Hawthorne, Nevada where her mother and father were living at the time - her father had opened the El Capitan Lodge and Casino - she met Byron "Bill" Bilyeu whom she married in 1962. With Bill, Loralee moved to Elko, Nevada where she raised her family and ultimately resided through the remainder of her life. Bill and Loralee had two children, Lindsay Bilyeu and Susan "Susie" Bilyeu, and remained married until 1976.

Loralee met and married Ernie Hall in 1983. They were married until his passing in 2001.

Loralee taught remedial reading at Grammar School #2 in Elko until her retirement. She was an avid reader, and always had the latest best-sellers on her nightstand. She was known to gift books to those she loved and for never giving a disappointing reading recommendation. Being able to inspire and encourage the love of reading and learning to her students, community and those she loved was one of her biggest joys.

In 2002, Loralee met her greatest love, Tommy Justus. Together they built a blended family that loved to get together for events and parties. "Granner," as the family called her, loved nothing more than having everyone together for some sort of celebration whether it was a birthday, Easter, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, or Christmas.

Granner was a marathon shopper who loved to take any willing (or unwilling) person along on her shopping excursions. It was here that she exemplified her love for her community - she had a habit of turning a "quick" grocery store trip into a two-hour errand because she liked to stop and chat with friends, former students, colleagues and others whose lives she touched.

In addition to being a wonderful teacher and an avid reader, Granner was incredibly creative in her own right. As a baker, she made an amazing apple pie - she tried to teach many of us to make it but ours could never quite match hers. As an artist, she loved to paint and knit.

She is preceded in death by her sister, Linda; her brother-in-law, Matt Trontel; and her parents: Lindsay and Aileen Smith.

She is survived by many who loved her and will miss her every day including husband, Tommy Justus; children and stepchildren: Lindsay Bilyeu (spouse Lesley), Susie Lapsley (spouse Rob), Sherry Justus, and LaDonna Barton (spouse Rich); and grandchildren: Mateo Bilyeu, Kylie Lapsley, Morgan Lapsley, Logan Lapsley, Chris Howell (spouse Arial), Jace Howell, Jessica Krenka (spouse Kaleb), Brandin Zink, Brittany Zink, and LaTonya Kalel (spouse Gary).

Loralee Justus will be fondly and widely remembered for her gentle heart, loving spirit, and genuine interest in others. She will be greatly missed.

We will honor her memory with a ceremony at Burns Funeral Home on what would have been her 86th birthday - August 18 at 10:00 a.m.