Jeffrey Ray Lovell

Jeffrey Ray Lovell, 61, of  Dumas, TX, passed away

unexpectedly but peacefully the evening of July 4th, 2023 while surrounded by family and fireworks, celebrating the Independence of this great country.  On that evening, the clouds lifted, and the trumpets sounded as the angels ushered him to Heaven.  At this point we all know he started to tell St. Peter and all around who he is, and all about his grandchildren.

Jeff was born on January 5th, 1962 to Jim and Louva Lovell in Dumas. Jeff had several childhood friends growing up with many that continued today, some of whom called him Jeffro.  After Jeff graduated from Dumas High School in 1980, he went on to study at Clarendon Jr. College where his father also studied. Soon after, he enrolled into the Police Academy to pursue his career as a police officer.

After completing the Police Academy successfully in 1981, he was hired as a peace officer with the Dumas Police Department.  Being just 19 years old, he was too young to buy a handgun.  His Brother John was a firearms dealer at the time, and in order to sell Jeff his Smith & Wesson Model 28, he had to get a letter from the chief of police, Frank Hudson.  Jeff was also too young to buy ammunition, so for the first two years of his law enforcement career, his mother had to purchase his ammunition for him.

During Jeff’s career as a Dumas Police Officer, he volunteered as a liaison with the Dumas Independent School District to be the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) Officer, where he made a huge impact in the lives of many young people and created enduring bonds with them.  His work as a D.A.R.E. Officer eventually led to his position as a peace officer for D.I.S.D.

Outside of being a peace officer, Jeff was a lifelong Boy Scout which turned into a Troop Master of Troop 137 for several years. It was also not uncommon to find him out multiple times a week delivering Meals on Wheels to those in need, or mowing yards all over town. He went above and beyond in order to impact the lives of both the children and adults in the Dumas community.

On October 17th, 1987, Jeff married Patsy Dianne Hamilton at the First Baptist Church of Dumas. Jeff and Dianne had 2 children, Johnny and Whitney whom Jeff joyously adopted in 1992.

Jeff is survived by his wife Dianne and their son Johnny Lovell of Lumberton, TX, his wife Bridget and their children Ashton, Brooklyn, Raygan, Jameson, with another Baby Lovell on the way; and daughter Whitney Chairez of Dumas, her husband Junior and their daughters Docia, Adi, and Darcy.

He is also survived by his mother Louva Hunt of Clarendon TX; uncle Joe T. Lovell of Claude, TX and his wife Shirley; sister Nita Lovell Dyslin of Amarillo, Texas; brother John Lovell and wife Regina of Amarillo; brother Jim Lovell and spouse Bill Stoner of Tourves, France; brother Joe Lovell and wife Tricia of Amarillo; sister Laura Taylor of Amarillo; sister Leslie Hawkins and husband Randall of McGregor, TX; and brother Jesse Lovell and wife Amy of Claude, TX; and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.

Jeff was preceded in death by his father James Reed Lovell (“Jim”), 96 of Dumas on July 4th, 2023; and step-mother Betty Lovell (“Granny Betty”), of Dumas on March 15, 2014.

Like “Papa Jim” his father, and grandfather “Daddy Ben” Lovell, and great-grandfather “Gran” Lovell, Jeff (“Puppy” to his grandchildren) was a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather to all the ones he loved, as well as a steadfast servant to the community in which he will be sorely missed by all.

Visitation will be held from 6-7:00 PM, Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at Boxwell Brothers, 500 N. Maddox, Dumas, Texas. Services will be at 1:00 PM, Thursday, July 13, 2023 at Sunray Church of Christ, 700 S. Ave N., Sunray, Texas. Interment will be in Dumas Cemetery. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors.

Services will be streamed, on the Sunray Church of Christ Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/SunrayTexas