- Date Of Birth: December 20, 1913
- Date Of Death: September 1, 2014
- State: Colorado
Eunice Inez Loveless Dilley Richardson, 100, died September 1, 2014, at her home in Brighton, CO. She was born December 20, 1913, daughter of Luther and Vera (Eden) Loveless. Survivors include sons James Dilley (Darlene) of Inglesides, TX, Carl Dilley, Jr., (LaVeta)of Larned, KS, daughters Donna Kitchens of Arvada, CO, and Kay Bigley of Brighton, CO; and two younger brothers Chester Loveless (Betty) of Vinita, OK and Charles Ed Loveless of Manford, OK; grandchildren Christine (Kitchens) Godsey, John Ed Skiles, Darryl Kitchens, Karalee (Dilley) Huck, Dwayne Dilley, Matt Dilley, Robin (Dilley) Van Atta; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Eunice was born in Linder, AR, and also lived with her 13 brothers and sisters in Conway, AR, and Indianola, OK. Eunice’s father, Luther, was a share cropper, and her mother, Vera, worked at times as a wet nurse and a mid-wife. During World War II, Vera Loveless walked 3 miles to town daily to make mattresses for the Army.
Eunice was the only one in her family to graduate from high school. In fact, you could even say she graduated from high school twice. She initially received her high school ring and senior picture from Liberty High School in 1931, but was not issued an official diploma due to a dispute over a missing textbook. Eunice then went to live with her Aunt Dora and Uncle Milton Blessing in Conway, AR, and continued attending Liberty High School, where she graded papers for a teacher. Years later, Eunice would scoff at this idea when talking about it and quickly explain that she had to use a straight-A student’s paper as a guide because her own spelling was so bad! During this time at Liberty High, Eunice and a friend also cleaned the school yard and any other tasks the teacher asked them to do. Eunice was awarded an official high school diploma from Liberty High School in Conway, AR, in 1936–there being no disputes over textbook fees this time!
Having watched her mother care for the births, ailments, bumps, bruises, and sprains of neighborhood children, Eunice dreamt of becoming the registered nurse that Vera Loveless had always wanted to be. To fulfill this dream, Eunice and Ermon Baily (high school buddy and future brother-in-law)hitch-hiked to Little Rock, AR, in November 1936, so that Eunice could apply to enter nurses’ training. Eunice was accepted, even though the training year had started in September. Eunice spent the first year trying to catch up with her class while working her rounds on the ward. This was especially difficult for Eunice because she struggled with reading. It would be many years before Eunice realized that she had dyslexia. Eunice had chosen nursing because of her mother’s unfulfilled dream and her own desire to take care of people; however, a less-than-successful surgery rotation almost did Eunice in. Eunice was fainting during surgeries and head nurse Daisy Rose wanted to dismiss Eunice from the program, but the surgical nurse intervened because of Eunice’s proficiency in other areas and suggested that Eunice be placed where she would be the most effective. After that, Eunice spent many, many months of nurses training in the nursery with the babies. In spite of a late start, her difficulties with reading, and her rocky surgery experiences, Eunice graduated from Baptist State Hospital on November 20, 1939.
Eunice married Carl Franklin Dilley in March 1941. They lived in Laramie, WY, where James, Butch (Carl, Jr.), and Donna were all born. The family later moved to Boulder, CO, and there Kay was born in 1944.
In 1945 the family moved to Oregon to be close to Carl’s parents.
