of Batesville, AR
March 31, 1924 - August 31, 2018
Lorene Brent Kilbreath Gathright, age 94, of Batesville died Friday, August 31. She was a true pioneer. Her parents, Orville and Olive Nothern Brent, her grandmother Nothern, and her two older brothers moved to Arkansas in a wagon when her Mother was pregnant with her. She was born in Batesville March 31, 1924. She grew up in the Cave Creek community.
She graduated from Cave City High School. Her first job was teaching at Brewer School on Cave Creek north of Batesville. She went on to work for Western Union in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. While working in Corpus Christi, she obtained her Associates Degree from Del Mar College. She bought her first car and learned to drive when she was 31, and took her Mother on trips ''out West.''
She married Homer Kilbreath in 1969. They moved to Falfurrias, Texas, when they retired. Lorene returned to her hometown after Homer's death. In 2013 she married Lloyd Gathright, a Batesville native living in Oregon. They met at a reunion and had a common interest in genealogy. She said their courtship was mostly by e-mail because neither could hear very well on the phone, and that her parents' courtship was mostly by mail.
Lorene is survived by her husband, Lloyd Gathright, and nieces and nephews, Paula Brent Stewart, Cathi Brent Cagle, Karen Brent Loser, Sheila Brent Voorhies, Edward Brent, Jr., Paul Chuchel, Bruce Chuchel, Glynis Grostephan, Bonnie Cremin, Curtis Brent, James Brent, Carla Brent Grant, Leon Brent, and Patti Brent Lide, and great nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her first husband; and brothers, Everett Brent, Rev. Harold Brent, Albert Brent and Bert Brent; and her sister, Nell Chuchel.
She attended Central Avenue United Methodist Church and was a member of the United Methodist Women, Order of Eastern Star, Daughters of the American Revolution and the Mayflower Society.
A memorial service will be at Roller-Crouch Chapel at 11:00 AM, Saturday, September 8 with Pastor Paul Seay officiating. A private committal ceremony for the cremains will be at Oaklawn Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Central Avenue United Methodist Church, 1205 North Central Avenue, Batesville AR 72501 or to the Humane Society of Independence County, P. O. Box 3477, Batesville AR 72503.