Lorene Richardson Hines

ODESSA Lorene Richardson Hines died peacefully in her sleep in the early morning hours of August 22. At age 86, fueled by a tenacity that bulldogs envy, Lorene lived a fiercely independent life. Her passions centered on her home, and it is a testament to the forces of good that she lived her final years planning and executing many improvements to her nest. Most days, it was not uncommon to find her dusting, vacuuming, tending to the laundry or planning her next home improvement. Until very recent years, she boasted of her ability to maintain her lawn, work that was a source of accomplishment and great pleasure to her.

A woman of great intelligence and a sharp wit, Lorene had an insatiable appetite for information. In spite of her daughters' attempts to bring her into the Information Age, she never mustered the courage to "log on" and chose more traditional authorities, including good ol' gossip. Her inquisitive mind remained fully alert and active all her life.

She enjoyed the company of her dear friends. Her relationship to LaNell Mayes (her son-in-law's mother) spanned almost four decades. They were anchors in each other's lives, and there is no greater love than that she felt for LaNell. And Lorene "adopted" a daughter late in life; the incredible Heather McNatt was adored by Lorene. Heather and Lorene spent many mornings over the ritual blueberry muffins and coffee while Lorene regaled Heather with tales of her early life and the struggles of her family during The Great Depression. And she loved to be regaled by Heather's tales of her children, Michael and Reagan.

Lorene loved a good game of Scrabble - and a "good" game involved cutthroat tactics, diabolical scheming and a mastery of "The Scrabble Dictionary." If you didn't know the "Q" words (without the "U's"), you weren't worthy. Likewise, her attack on the "New York Times" Sunday crossword puzzles was relentless, a skill/talent that has been passed to two generations succeeding her.

In raising two daughters who were separated by two and half years, she valued treating them as equals, and that desire is most apparent in the way she dressed her girls - always to the nines, fully fluffed and accessorized.

The family photo album brings to life the artistry and care she demonstrated in sewing many of the beautiful dresses for her girls.
The voice of Nat King Cole ignited Lorene's romantic sensibilities, and her taste in music expanded in recent years as her CD collection grew.

Much of her dusting, vacuuming and crossword puzzling was performed with musical accompaniment.

Though she was quick to dismiss any compliment about her cooking, she never failed to please the crowd with her culinary staples, and there was no more pleasant experience than walking into the kitchen when the chicken and dumplings were simmering and the lemon chiffon pie was coming out of the oven.

In recent years, she developed a love of reading; and the novels of Jan Karon topped her list of favorites.

She is survived by two daughters, Randi Mayes of Austin and Elizabeth West of Kansas City; three grandchildren, Kendall Mayes, Andrew West and Avery West. Her sisters, Louise Roberts of Birmingham, Alabama and Dene Perkins of Los Angeles, California, were always close to her heart though the miles kept them apart. Niece and nephew, Corby Baumgarten and Marc Perkins, were loved by Lorene as if they were her own.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Cecil "Tommie" Hines.

Many years ago, Lorene made the choice to donate her body to medical research, and we've joked for years that she would be going to medical school someday. If researchers can do with her remains what she did with a Dutch apple pie, we've got some exciting cures on the way.

No services are planned.