OBITUARY
Lorene C. Plaster, age 87, peacefully passed away on June 11, 2022.
Lorene and her twin Florene were born on July 18, 1934, in Memphis, Texas to the late Virgil Mack and Ida Gilchrest Woodall.
Lorene Woodall married the love of her life George Plaster on December 4, 1951, in Clovis, New Mexico. Lorene and George shared a special love for each other, and the family God gave them for over 70 years.
Lorene was a loving wife, caring mother and grandmother, and a true friend to many. Lorene demonstrated her love and concern for lost souls by serving in many ministries in churches throughout the years. She wanted everyone to know that Jesus loved them and died for them. She was a Sunday school teacher, worked in VBS, witnessed to people, and invited them to church. She was blessed to be able to lead several to the Lord.
Lorene and Florene shared a lot of the same joys- church, family, singing, and a special twin intuition. Lorene worked at various retail stores throughout her career and retired from Cizons Jewelers. She was a member of Arden Road Baptist Church.
Lorene is survived by her husband, George Plaster and four children; daughters, Patricia Sutterfield and husband Dan, Beverly Bryant and husband Mike; sons, Gary Plaster and wife Tina, Kevin Plaster and wife Tammy; 14 grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
Lorene was preceded in death by a great-granddaughter, Kennalee Bryant; brothers, Robert (Bill) Davis, Vernon Woodall, Jim Woodall; sisters, Ruby Satariano, Addie May Ferrell, Maxine Davis, Norvelle Greer, Oleta Sparks, and her twin Florene Alato.
DEAR MOM, THANK YOU
Last Saturday Gary called me and told me you made it safely home, that you are resting in the arms of Jesus.
I celebrated your home-going from Budapest, Hungary.
KEVIN
The fact that I was in Hungary was because of a choice you made when I was just a baby.
You went to church with your children, heard a great sermon, and dedicated your life to Jesus. That day there was a child in your arms and you told the preacher you also wanted to dedicate him to the Lord. That child was me. Thank you.
I also want to thank you for not telling me what you did that day. I remember how I found out.
I met up with that pastor, James Crawford, 35 years later. I was on my way to Russia to tell them about Jesus. He was the one who told me the story of what happened that day. About the child in your arms. And that child was me.
When I called to ask if it was true you said it was. When I asked why you didn’t tell me you said, It was your choice for me to serve Jesus but my decision. I thank you for letting me make that decision on my own years later.
I know you raised each of your children to be dedicated to the Lord.
BEVERLY
Here is what Beverly said…
In the hardest time of my life, when I had no idea what the next step was. Mom encouraged me to come to church. Reluctantly I did.
A few weeks later she asked if she could buy me a Bible, if so what would I like. I had no desire to carry a big fat Bible around so I just said a small one. Well, that small Bible made the biggest change in my life. It is a treasure! It reminds me still of how much she loved me. It’s been put away now, well worn. Now I have a big Bible. I’m not sure I ever thanked her for that little blue Bible. But of all the gifts she gave me that is the one that truly mattered.
GRANDKIDS
From the grandkids
The grandkids say thank you for all the endless snacks, beverages, and endless hugs. Your hands were never empty at Grandma’s. (From Lacey)
FLUCTUATING IQ
I remember the time as a preteen that my IQ was fluctuating wildly. I thought I was grown. Big enough to cuss. That day I blasphemed, and that in front of you. I remember how you squared up in front of me and slapped my face. It hurt. I was glad you didn’t knock my head off.
I know you expected that IQ adjustment to help me greatly. It was really unfortunate that my IQ was still fluctuating wildly and it took another dip. I asked if that made you feel better. And you showed me your back hand was just as awesome as your forehand.
Both sides of my face were beet red and my IQ improved tremendously. I don’t think I ever cursed in front of you again. The adjustments were just too much to bear. Oh yes, I also learned that if you ever squared up in front of me again, like you did that day, I should run.
I thank you for caring that much.
You showed me it was one thing to be big and another to be stupid. Thanks for the adjustments.
I also want you to know that God continued where you left off. There have been lots of adjustments over the years.
GARY
Gary said “Thank you for not giving up on us.”
FROM ALL OF US
Collectively we thank you for your generosity. It was over the top. You always met our needs and quite often you gave sacrificially to give just a little bit more. Thank you.
CHURCH
Thank you for taking us to church, teaching us to love and worship Jesus; to follow Him, to always trust Him.
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Thank you for teaching us in Sunday school, about all the great characters. Personally, I fell in love with them. Thank you for teaching us to follow the good examples and beware of the bad ones. That really helped us. It laid a foundation that we cherish to this day.
OUR FRIENDS
You thought of our friends who were not in church. You went to their homes and asked permission to take them to church. Some of our friends have shared with us, on more than on occasion the great impact that you had on their lives. And they are grateful.
DAD
We are grateful for the man you married, the one you chose to make a life with, to love through thick and thin. That marriage last for more than 71 years. He’s a good man.
I personally talk with him often and let him know that I am proud of him and that I love him.
I’ve also talked with him thoroughly about his own personal relationship with Jesus. I expect he will be staying with us awhile longer but want you to know he is prepared to join you when his time comes.
SIBLINGS
Thank you for my siblings, my brother and my sisters.
I rejoice in the fact that you had children nearby that were able to come see you just before you went to be with Jesus.
GARY
Hey Mom, one last thing. I would like to tell on Gary.
Some thirty years ago he was offered a job at Coca Cola in Atlanta. He told me he turned it down. I asked why. He said that he was going to stay right here and take care of you and Dad in your old age. He did that. He did a good job. I am so proud of him. I am sure he will do the same for Dad.
Jesus spoke to the Apostle John while he was hanging on the cross. And He left Mary in the care of John. I don’t know if others in the family tried to usurp Johns commission to take care of her. One thing I know is that John completed the task. And Gary took the task of providing for you just as seriously. Thank you, Gary
John 14:1-6
1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Let me say that Thomas may not have known the way, but you sure did. Thanks for doing your best to stay the course.
Romans 8:33-39
33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
TEXT FOR THE GRAVE SITE
1 Corinthians 15
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 “O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.