Loanie Louella Russell's Obituary
Loanie Louella Tyner Russell was born on September 17, 1934, in San Perlita, Texas. As a young girl, she moved to Donna, Texas where she grew up surrounded by grandparents, relatives, and lifelong friends. Raised during the hardships of the Great Depression and the early development of the Rio Grande Valley, she often shared memories of those years and remained deeply connected to the place she called home.
Louella attended Donna High School where she was elected Indian Sweetheart and graduated as Salutatorian. She earned her bachelor's degree from Southwest Texas State Teachers College. A teacher at heart, she enjoyed several years in the classroom and carried her love of learning throughout her life.
In 1956, she married Lt. Jesse Ray Russell in Mannheim, Germany, while he was serving in the U.S Army. During their time abroad, Louella taught school for military families through the University of Maryland. During his service tour, the couple enjoyed traveling throughout Europe. They came home to Weslaco, where Jesse began farming and established an early communication company in the Valley. Louella, along with her husband, weathered a lifetime of many farming challenges, including droughts, hurricanes, and freezes.
Family remained at the center of Louella's life. She was active in her children's schools, served her church, was a Brownie leader for her daughter's troop and was a longtime member of PEO Chapter EN. She took pride in creating a beautiful home and found great joy in caring for those she loved.
A lifelong reader, Louella delighted in sharing books, recipes, and stories with family and friends. She often joked that recipes were "so little to give," yet those small acts of generosity meant much more to the people around her. She loved discussing what she was reading and would often read passages aloud to her children over the phone.
Nothing brought her greater happiness than her grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. She treasured time spent with them and delighted in getting down on the floor to play, even when age made it difficult. In her later years, she often said that her great-grandchildren were among God's greatest blessings in her old age.
One of Louella's favorite poems was "The Reading Mother" by Strickland Gillilan. It's closing lines reflected both what she valued and the gift she gave to others:
"You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be --
I had a mother who read to me."
Louella was preceded in death by her parents, Edith and Walter Tyner; her brothers, William Clarence and Elmer Lewis; and her sister, Eva Blanche.
She is survived by her loving children, Linda Elaine Russell Dickerson and her husband Barry Wade Dickerson of Weslaco, Texas; and sons John Randall Russell and Joseph Walter Russell of Dallas, Texas. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Dustin Dickerson and his wife Ashley Dickerson of Weslaco, Texas and Jessica Dickerson Roy and her husband Beau Roy of Pearland, Texas.
Louella was blessed with seven great-grandchildren, including Gavin Roy, Elaine Louella Roy (her namesake), and Adeline Tyner Roy of Pearland, Texas; and Emma Charlotte, Lilian James, Cade Tyner, and Cora Mae Dickerson of Weslaco, Texas. She is also survived by her niece, Teresa Tyner Walker, her sister in law, Dorothy Tyner Lauw, and many lifelong friends.
A private family burial will be held in Weslaco. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Aurora House Foundation at: 2646 W. 18th St, Weslaco, Tx 78596.
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