Lovella Vannett Hymes, 71, West End, NC passed away peacefully, Friday, August 2nd,2024 at First Health Hospice House after her short but courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
She was born the youngest daughter to the late Earl and Murrine Lindbo Vannett, March 18th,1953 and was raised with her nine other siblings in Minot, ND. She loved to tell people how she had to walk 4 miles in the snow to school with holes in her shoes. She graduated from Minot Senior High School in 1970 and moved to Elizabethtown, NC from ND in early 1971 with her first husband and father of her girls, Larry Brisson. That is where the stories of walking in the snow ended. After a brief marriage, she moved to Southern Pines, NC and enrolled at Sandhills Community College and graduated in 1981 with her X-Ray Technician degree. Soon she found her love in Nuclear Medicine and decided to further her education and received her Nuclear Medicine degree from UNC Chapel Hill in 1990. She worked tirelessly and was very devoted to her field in various places to include, First Health Moore Regional, Cape Fear Valley, and retired from Pinehurst Medical Clinic Cardiology.
Lovella was a funny, loving and caring friend, mother, grandmother, and wife (to many). She was affectionately known by other names, such as Bella, Vella, Lovie, and Lou. However, she said her favorite name would always be Maw Maw. She loved anything purple, hummingbirds, watering her plants, dancing, laughing and baking. Many people looked forward to the holidays because they knew they would get some of her fudge, sausage balls, or her infamous “Crack in a bag” (not actually crack, but addictive like it). She was loved by many, feared by few, and if you didn’t have an opinion, she had one for you.
After finally retiring in December of 2020, she married the love of her life, Ronald Hymes in July of 2021. She took her first cruise, spoiled Ron and her two dogs, Coco and Abby, living part time in Reading, PA where there was always snow in the winter.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald Hymes, brothers, David Thomas Vannett and Rev. Willard Earl Vannett; and sisters, Connie Rae Papay and Darlene Faye Kolobakken.
She is survived by her daughters, Kris Gruzeski (James), JoElla Hardee (John) stepsons, Ray Hunley (Kwinam), David Hunley (Ku), stepdaughter, Ashey Wilcox; three grandsons, Cyle Gruzeski, Conner Hardee, and Carson Hardee; sisters, Ruth Edna Fred, Pearl Marie Griffin, Marlene Olive Tiller, and her brothers Leroy Marvin Vannett and Bruce Arlo Vannett and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the numerous family, friends, those that helped in her care during her fight, especially, First Health Cancer Center, Moore Regional Hospital, Palliative Care, First Health Hospice House.
Friends and family are invited to join us in a Celebration of Life, Saturday, August 10th,2024 at 1:00pm at Middle Cross Baptist Church 440 Lucas Rd, West End, NC 27376.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to FirstHealth Hospice Foundation, 150 Applecross Road, Pinehurst, NC 28374.
Online condolences may be made at www.bolesfuneralhome.com.
Service arrangements are entrusted to Boles Funeral Home.
