Lela Nowlin

(From Derfelt Funeral Home)

Lela Rae Nowlin, age 83 of Quapaw, passed away at 6:50 PM on Wednesday, June 14, 2023 at Mercy Hospital of Joplin, MO.

Lela was born in the Picher/Cardin, OK area to Roy R. Heatherly and Leatha M. (Rhodes) Heatherly. She was a lifetime resident of Northeast Oklahoma where she had spent time in both Picher/Cardin and Quapaw. 

For all of her life, she worked as a cashier at Consumers 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".

She was united in marriage with Lloyd "Dickie" Nowlin in Cardin, OK on February 28, 1958. He survives.

Additional survivors include one son, Dustin Nowlin of Quapaw, OK; four daughters, Debbie McMullin (husband, Gary) of Flower Mound, TX, Starlah McClary (husband, Robert) of Amarillo, TX, Dawn Lance (husband, Kevin) of Siloam Springs, AR, and Regina Sullivan of Carl Junction, MO; 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 step-granddaughters, Mackenzee, Madi, Maycee, and Myka Lance; fourteen great-grandchildren; 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, OK; her bonus daughter, Heather Derfelt (husband, Matt) of Carl Junction, MO; and and five nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Leatha Heatherly; 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 10:00 am on Friday, June 16, 2023 at Bethel Community Church of Baxter Springs, KS. Pastor Matt Derfelt will officiate. Online condolences may be expressed at www.derfeltfuneralhomes.com.