Elizabeth Love

Elizabeth Preston Love, 100, of Fairland passed away in Springfield, Missouri, January 11, 2017, at the home of her daughter. Elizabeth was the first born of identical twins on January 14, 1916, in Seymour, Missouri to David Craigie and Lizzie Malinda (Burkhardt) Preston. She graduated from Seymour High School and was valedictorian of her class. After high school, Elizabeth attended Missouri State Teachers College and Drury University where she and her twin sister graduated Cum Laude in 1938, majoring in home economics with a minor in art, and earning Missouri Secondary Teaching Certificates. Elizabeth taught for two years in Churdan, Iowa. She married her schoolmate, Robert Love, a Frisco Railroad signalman and they traveled by rail from location to location with his job for two years. During that time they lived in a converted box car and Elizabeth helped another couple cook and serve meals for the signal gang. After living in Springfield and Wittenburg, Missouri, the Loves moved with their two small children to Fairland, Oklahoma, where they had two more children. When Elizabeth’s youngest son started school, she reentered the teaching profession, teaching one year at Welcome rural school near Narcissa, and then transferred to Fairland and taught third grade when Welcome school closed due to low attendance. While teaching, she continued her education at Northeastern State College in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, receiving an Oklahoma Elementary Teaching Certificate and a Master’s Degree in elementary education specializing in teaching reading. Following her retirement from teaching, Elizabeth continued to be active with volunteer work with her church and community, serving in both leadership and supportive roles and earning several awards and recognition for her contributions. At church her involvement included UMW, Lay Delegate, Sunday School teacher, Youth programs, Mission Chair, pianist since 1946, and played for Grand Lake Ministry. Other volunteer activities included Retired Educators, Jolly Workers Home & Community Education Club, Garden Club, Meals on Wheels, AARP Tax Aide, and Salvation Army Service Board. Elizabeth is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Robert, two brothers Donald Preston and Harold Preston, and two sisters, her twin, Fredericka Plummer and Ruth Preston. Survivors include her children Jim Love and his wife Patty of Fairland, Byrkie Horn of Grove, Arlene Chriswell of Springfield, and Larry Love of Broken Arrow. She is also survived by five grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, plus nieces and nephews, and many special friends. A visitation for Mrs. Love will be Sunday, January 15, 2017, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Brown-Winters Funeral Home in Fairland. A celebration of life will be Monday, January 16, 2017, at 10:00 AM at the First United Methodist Church in Fairland with the Reverend Shannon Rodenburg officiating. Interment will follow at the Fairland Cemetery under the care of Brown-Winters Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Fairland. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Circle of Care, 1501 NW 24th Street, Suite 214, Oklahoma City, OK 73106 or to the First United Methodist Church in Fairland. Friends and family may send the family notes of encouragement by viewing Mrs. Love’s Tribute Page at www.brown-winters.com.

Elizabeth Love

January 14, 1916 - January 11, 2017