Helen Lydia Dunnavant

Helen Lydia Dunnavant, born on January 24, 1937 in Gladewater, Tx passed away on January 11, 2024 at Good Shepherd Hospital in Longview, Tx.  She was a lifelong member of the Gladewater First Methodist Church.  She was just honored as the oldest living member and the first one baptized there. It is with a heavy heart and sadness that we announce that she is headed to her heavenly reward.  There she will gain her angel wings and be reunited with the ones gone before her.

 

Helen, who everyone called Granny, was born to Marvin and Thelma Pursel.  She attended Gladewater High School, where she graduated and met her high school sweetheart, Leroy Dunnavant.  They married on Dec. 10, 1955.  She was a homemaker and raised four children, while being the wife of a career Army husband. She was stationed in Germany twice, Hawaii and other bases across the country.  Granny loved music, puzzles, crocheting, her dachshund pup Polky and she was a great cook. Her favorite flower was the yellow rose and she loved pictures of tigers.

 

Helen was survived by her daughter inlaw Ruth Dunnavant of Longview, her daughter Debra Dunnavant of White Oak, son and daughter inlaw Bruce and Kandi Dunnavant of Melbourne, Florida and  daughter and son-inlaw Mary and Derek Hunter of Gladewater.  She was the Granny to 10 grandchildren, Shane, Marshal, Amanda, Brady, Miles, Dixie, Cody, Colton, Clinton and the late Benjamin. and Great-Granny to many great grandchildren.  She is preceded in death by her parents Marvin and Thelma Pursel, brother Dan Pursel, sister Janie Smith, husband Leroy Dunnavant, son Roy Dunnavant and grandson Benjamin Hunter. Granny was loved by all and will be deeply missed.

 

Granny has influenced many people and was one of the sweetest ladies ever.  She touched many lives. May her legacy live on forever.