Lotena Gladys VanDeventer

Lotena Gladys VanDeventer, 102, of Byers, passed away on Saturday, August 2, 2025.

Graveside services will be at 10:00 am, Wednesday morning, August 6, 2025 in the Nocona Cemetery in Nocona, Texas with Rev. Duane Perkinson, officiating. Burial will be under the direction of Davis Owens & Brumley Funeral Home in Henrietta, Texas.

Lotena was born on April 2, 1923 in Altus, Oklahoma to John and Hattie Mason. She graduated from Newcastle High School in Newcastle, Texas in 1941. She married the love of her life Floyd VanDeventer on December 5, 1942 by the marrying judge in Walters, Oklahoma, witnessed by the judge's wife. They eloped and didn't tell anyone they were married for a month!

Lotena started her nursing career working as a nurse at the State Hospital in Wichita Falls, Texas, then Bethania Hospital working for Dr. JB Hawthorne in his office. In her thirties she became an LVN and worked at the Sherman Community Hospital for Dr. Donahue, and then for Dr. JP Graves for 19 years in Marshall, Texas.

Lotena became a certified Medical Assistant in 1965. She was in the first group of women to be certified as Medical Assistants. In 1975, Floyd and Lotena moved to Nocona Hills and she worked as an LVN at Horizon Manor in Nocona. She also trained CNA's in the surrounding area.

Her favorite thing to do was fish with her husband Floyd and her grandchildren. She was an excellent cook and could fry the best fish around, and baked the best pecan pie.

She also loved spending time with her family and friends, visiting or playing 42 and chicken foot.

Lotena is preceded in death by her husband, Floyd VanDeventer, her parents, Hattie and John Mason, her brother, Odus Mason and his wife Estelle, her sister Agnes McKelvey and her husband Jack, her sister Grace Fuller and her husband Lloyd, her sister Clara Mason, her brother-in-law George Denney, and her son-in-law Roy A. Jones. Lotena is survived by her daughter Janice J. Jones, her sister, Trudie Denney, her grandchildren, Susan Gordon and her spouse Suzanne, Sarah Young and her husband Mark, and Shawn Jones and his wife Kim. Lotena is survived by 12 great-grandchildren and 8 great-great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the First Baptist Church in Byers, Texas.

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