In Memoriam : Loretta Stever
Loretta June Stever - age: 90
(June 02, 1920 to June 24, 2010 ) Resident of Exeter, California Visitation Information: Services will be held graveside at the Exeter Public Cemetery District on Friday, July 2, 2010 at 10:00 am. Arrangements have been entrusted to Evans Miller Guinn Exeter Chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Tulare County Farm Bureau Educational and Scholarship Fund, PO Box 748, Visalia, CA 93279 or to the Valley Oak SPCA at 29016 Highway 99, Visalia, CA 93277. Obituary: Loretta Stever was born Loretta June Miller on June 2, 1920 to George E. Miller and Sallie Brunner Miller in Hutchinson, Kansas. Loretta passed away peacefully at her home in Exeter on Thursday, June 24, 2010 at the age of 90. Loretta’s life was marred by the early death of her mother when she was a teenager. It left Loretta having to help her father care for her 2 brothers. Shortly after the death of her mother, they moved to California from Missouri where Loretta graduated from Lindsay High School in 1938. She soon met and married the love of her life, Loran Hoover Stever. They were wed on May 30, 1940 in a small ceremony in Las Vegas, NV. While Loran served in the US Army Air Corps during World War II, Loretta worked in the Dime Store in Lindsay. Upon his return to civilian life, they established a home in Lindsay and welcomed their only child, a son, David, in 1948. Loretta cherished the 49 years of marriage she shared with Loran. Loretta lived her life as Wife, Mother, Grandmother, and homemaker. She often worked alongside her husband in the packing houses and then in his own business known as L.H. Stever Nailing Machines. Loretta frequently accompanied Loran on his service calls to his nailing machines that were installed in packing houses throughout the western states. Loretta always prepared loving meals for their business and personal travels and shared her home cooking with friends along the way. As they reached retirement age, they delved into their real passions: living life to the fullest. They purchased a motor home and traveled extensively enjoying camping with their son and his family and traveling across the Midwest. They also spent time with her brother Eddie & his wife Emmy at a family cabin in Lake Tahoe and enjoyed many outings to the casinos. Loretta was passionate about playing Blackjack. She shared her love for cards with her granddaughters and taught them math lessons through games such as this. It was devastating to the family when Loran died in 1990, but Loretta persevered and continued to be a loving mother and grandmother, but life without her soul mate was hard for her. Loretta moved to Exeter where she lived as a widow for nearly 21 years and she greatly missed her husband all those years. She lived her life gracefully, maintaining her independence, and enjoying a zest for life. Loretta had several personal loves in life – cooking, baking, gambling & baseball! She loved to cook & was known around Exeter for her wonderful Christmas Rum Cakes and home made apple pies. Loretta enjoyed life until the very end, having traveled the day before her passing up to the Indian Casino for what would be her final gambling adventure. She always enjoyed watching the ball games or listening to one on her transistor radio. Loretta is predeceased by her husband, Loran Hoover Stever; her parents George and Sallie Brunner Miller; her step-mother Ruth Miller, her brothers Everett & his wife Emmy Miller; and brother Ivan “Dutch” Miller. Loretta is survived by her son, David Stever & his wife Doris of Exeter, her two granddaughters: Kathryn Alice Stever-Harper and husband John Wesley Harper of Bryan, TX; Patricia Louise Stever and fiancé Robert Blattler of Exeter; a step-sister Jean Bateman & husband Robert of Marionville, MO; a sister-in-law Fay Miller of Marshfield, MO; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and neighbors. 
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Alan Barton - June 28, 2010  Contact this person
Really sorry to hear we won't be able to visit with her, taste her pies or to go to a casino with her. Miss her a lot already. Hope you, the family, are doing as well as possible.
Debbie Jacobsen - June 28, 2010 Contact this person
Our deepest sympathy to the family on the passing of your Mother, Grandmother, loved one and friend. We know what she meant to her grandaughter, Tricia, and we know how much she will be missed. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Raymond and Debbie Jacobsen
Katy Harper - July 6, 2010 Contact this person
We are going to miss Grandma!
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