Doris Vestal Evans Lovell
The family of Doris Vestal Evans Lovell is deeply saddened to announce the passing of our beloved mother on Saturday, September 14, just one week after her husband, Terry Lovell, was laid to rest following a tragic car accident.
Doris was born on June 9, 1931, to Marion and Lula Irene Vestal in Jackson, Tennessee, and grew up in the countryside of Mifflin, Tennessee. She often shared stories of walking three miles to school each day, rain or snow. Every year, school let out for six weeks during the cotton-picking season, and she would use her earnings to buy school clothes. She found love and care with her Uncle Roy and Aunt Stell, who treated her as one of their own. Doris cherished spending summers with them.
At 21, she married James R. Evans of Jackson, Tennessee. Together, they had five children: Robert, Larry, Mary Ann, Lisa, and Brenda. Doris’ greatest love was her children. She often said how much she adored holding and rocking them when they were babies, never afraid of spoiling them with love. Her early life was dedicated to her children, selflessly prioritizing their needs over her own.
On June 30, 1978, Doris married Terry Lovell, and they spent 46 wonderful years together. At the age of 53, she earned her real estate license in 1984, passing with flying colors. In 2007, she furthered her accomplishments by obtaining her broker’s license, passing on her first attempt. If you needed your house sold, you called Doris. However, her proudest accomplishments were her children, grandchildren, and her 15 great-grandchildren.
We will forever cherish the time we had with her, filled with beautiful memories and laughter. Every spring, she loved driving to the country to pick buttercups, a tradition that brought stories of her childhood in Mifflin to life.
Doris was preceded in death by her husband, Terry Lovell (9-3-24), her son Robert Evans (10-13-21), and her granddaughter Heather Mullins (1-19-21). She is survived by her son, Larry Evans, and her daughters, Mary Ann (Denis) Rainey, Lisa (Gary) Newsom, and Brenda (Johnny) Lawrence, along with her brother Roger (Ruth) Vestal. Doris also leaves behind eight grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren, all of whom will cherish her memory forever.
