Lucy Carol Venable

Lucy Carol Pearson Venable was born on December 26, 1932, to James Rolland and Lucille Lillian Pearson in Balko, Oklahoma.  She was the seventh child out of ten children.  She departed this life on September 26, 2023, at the age of 90 years, 9 months after a brief illness.

Lucy was raised and attended school in a one room schoolhouse in Huntoon, Texas from 1st through 5th grade.  She moved to Perryton, Texas and attended school in Perryton during her 6th and 7th grade years and transferred to Balko High School in the 8th grade and graduated in 1949.  Shortly after high school, she married Gene Westenhaver and moved to Perryton, TX where they had five children.  In 1965, she moved to Beaver, Oklahoma.  She attended cosmetology school in Liberal, Kansas.  Lucy held various jobs and was a hard worker her entire life. She married Gaylen Venable in 1971. In 1975, she began working at Beaver Public Schools as the Superintendent’s secretary and treasurer.  She continued working for 39 years, retiring at the age of 81.

Lucy had many talents and passions, one of which was her love of plants.  She spent many hours working in her flowerbeds and took great pride in her yard.  She was also a gifted musician and played piano and accordion.  In fact, the entire Pearson family was gifted musically and had their own band and frequently played at Balko School for various programs. You could always put a smile on her face with a donut or cinnamon roll and a good cup of coffee. 

She was preceded in death by her parents Rolland and Lucille Pearson, five brothers: Athel, J.V., Louis, Robert and Roy, one sister, Luella and one grandson, Ryan James Westenhaver. 

Those left to treasure her memory are three sons, Billy Westenhaver and wife Catherine of Beaver, Robby Westenhaver and wife Kathleen of Beaver and Tony Westenhaver of Denver, Colorado; two daughters, Karen Schell and husband Don of Beaver and Laura Westenhaver of Farina, Illinois; ten grandchildren: Stacey Russell, Becky Roose, Amy Barnett, Allison Bennett, Jennifer Foley, Billie Westenhaver, Sara Miller, Kimberly Winner, Pierce Westenhaver, and Tess Moss; twenty-four great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. In addition, she is survived by three sisters: Ozella Bradley of Spearman, Texas, Alberta Harris of Fritch, Texas and Arvada “Jan” Jewell of Arvada, Colorado. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to STEP UP Transitional Living Program for homeless youth in Weatherford, OK. Donations can be made on online at www.stepuptransition.org or mailed to P.O. Box 1016, Weatherford, OK  73096.