Lela Rae Nowlin, 83 of Quapaw, Okla., died at 6:50 p.m. Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at Mercy Hospital of Joplin, Mo. Born in the Picher/ Cardin, Oklahoma area, Lela was the daughter of Roy R. Heatherly and Leatha M. (Rhodes) Heatherly. They preceded her in death.
She was a lifetime resident of Northeast Oklahoma where she had spent time in both Picher/Cardin and Quapaw, Okla.
For all of her life, Lela worked as a cashier at Consumer’s Market. She was a great wife and mother who took pride in her work around the house. She was always cooking and baking in the kitchen, tending her flowers in the yard, or playing cards with family around the dinner table. She was known to all her kids, grandkids and family friends as the world’s best waffle maker and anyone that visited had to have her waffles. She could take yarn and crochet it into beautiful blankets, which were often given to family members as gifts. Her days were filled with laughter, song and dance as she visited with family, but she had an ornery side too. The family recalls her “cutting up” at all of their gatherings, sometimes to a point that it was affectionately described as “tormenting”, although it was always done with love. A description of Lela wouldn’t be complete without a reference to her affinity for her CB Radio that she skillfully operated under the CB Handle “Cellar Dweller”.
Lela and Lloyd “Dickie” Nowlin were united in marriage February 28, 1958 at Cardin, Okla. He survives.
In addition to her husband, Lela is survived by one son, Dustin Nowlin of Quapaw, Okla.; four daughters, Regina Sullivan of Carl Junction, Mo., Dawn Lance (husband, Kevin) of Siloam Springs, Ark., Debbie McMullin (husband, Gary) of Flower Mound, Texas and Starlah McClary (husband, Robert) of Amarillo, Texas; eleven grandchildren, Anna Blunk, Sarah Foster, Travis McMullin, Tyler McClary, Cody McClary, Levi Nowlin, Dexter Thompson, Brayden Sullivan, Blayke Sullivan, Kaden Nowlin, Gavin Nowlin; four stepgranddaughters, Mackenzee, Madi, Maycee and Myka Lance; fourteen greatgrandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren with two on the way; her favorite “sisto”, Janie Howey (husband, Paul) of Joplin, Mo.; one brother, Terry Heatherly (wife, Gerri) of Miami, Okla.; her bonus daughter, Heather Derfelt (husband, Matt) of Carl Junction, Mo.; and five nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, Lela was preceded in death by one son-in-law, Robbie Sullivan; one great-grandson, Memphis Thompson; one brother-in-law, Russell “Rusty” Moore.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, June 16 at Bethel Community Church of Baxter Springs. Pastor Matt Derfelt will officiate. Online condolences may be expressed at www.derfeltfuneralhomes.com.