Lillie Grove

1918 - 2012

Lillie Patterson Grove passed to a new life on May 7, 2012 surrounded by her family. The prayers of the faithful helped her on her final journey after 93 years on this earth.
Funeral services and interment will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, May 11, 2012 at the Pioneer Cemetery, Beaver, Oklahoma, with Rev. Don Griffin officiating, under the direction of Walker-Brown Funeral Home.
Memorial funds may be left to the United Methodist Church of Beaver, PO Box 309, Beaver, Oklahoma, 73932.
Lillie was born on September 12, 1918 in Beaver County, Oklahoma to Robert David and Minnie (Wilkins) Patterson. One of ten children, she grew up instilled with the virtues that can come from a Christian farm family. She was educated in the Locust Grove and Greenough schools. She attended college at Panhandle State University where she received her teaching certification. She was a teacher in the one room schools of Union, Locust Grove and Mocane, eventually teaching at Beaver Grade School in Beaver, Oklahoma.
She met Gene R. Grove in high school and they were married on May 21, 1939 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Beaver, Oklahoma became their new home and their life. To this marriage two sons were born – Gene R. Grove and Jerry N. Grove – who both reside in Bartlesville. Lillie lived a full and blessed life. She was admired and respected by all who had the privilege of knowing her. She was known as a 'doer' who was actively involved in her church and community life. Lillie was instrumental in forming the charter chapter of PEO and the Red Hats in Beaver. She was also a renowned cook, who loved to give her delicious creations away to friends and family alike.
Gene passed away in 1989, and in 2002 Lillie moved to Bartlesville and resided at Green Country Village. After living over 50 years in the Oklahoma panhandle, her family was a little concerned on how she would adjust. But she dove right in and resolved to learn all of the residents so she could call them by name. She was active at the United Methodist Church, the Red Hat Society and PEO. She was on the Green Country resident board and acted as the librarian for many years. And until she finally gave up cooking, she would bake a lemon meringue pie to welcome each new resident.
Lillie was a prayer warrior who was forever praying for others. She never complained – not even through her illness which took her life. Her greatest love was her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She leaves them a lasting legacy of love, the importance of family, and devotion to God.
She is survived by her two sons, G.R. Grove and Jerry N. Grove and wife Mary (the daughter she never had) of Bartlesville; five grandchildren, Gene Robert Grove and wife Lagina of Corpus Christi, TX, Carrie Hammack and husband Brandon of Verdigris, OK, Andy Grove and wife Brianna, Kelly Herrera and husband Alfredo, and Katie Messer and husband Michael, all of Tulsa. She also leaves her great-grandchildren: Mitchell Hammack, Jayna and Jaxon Grove, and Gracyn, Ethan and Avery Grove. She was preceded in death by her husband and all of her brothers and sisters.