ARLENE LADELL HARVEY HALE
1939-2021
Arlene Ladell Harvey Hale was born, the first child to Mary Sue Christopher Harvey and Lilburn Steve Harvey on October 14, 1939 in McAdoo, Texas. She married Troy Mac Jolly from Shamrock, Texas in 1959. They moved together to Austin in 1960.
Arlene was a perfectionist who loved homemaking, people, gardening, cooking, shopping for antiques, making beautiful home-made cards and scrapbooks, she spent time with family, participated in church activities, and served others. She became a member of Champions Church of Christ after relocating to Houston Texas in 1989 and worshiped with her Champions family until the very end, even doing so on Facebook when she had no other option. Her Champions family brought her joy and comfort all her days and never left her side even in the end when she was unable to tell them how much their support and love meant to her. She made friends with everyone around her, when new neighbors moved in, she went to visit taking small plants, baked goods, and cards to welcome them to the neighborhood. She became known for sending her homemade cards to everyone she knew and for every life event imaginable. She never forgot a birthday or anniversary, her cards are true works of art. She also treasured every card, letter, or gift ever given to her by a friend or family member, she also kept every single one!
Arlene’s children and grandchildren were so important to her, she lived for their visits and never failed to make their favorite dishes, everyone loved to eat Grammy’s yeast waffles and her chocolate pie. She had an old fashion school desk that all her grandkids spent time at coloring or working on drawings for their Grammy. Her refrigerator was always filled with children’s drawings or art projects which she never threw away. She made sure the Easter Bunny and Santa Clause always knew where to find her kids and grandkids and she made those memories special for every generation in our family. There was laughter and joy! There were also difficult times, arguments, pain, and sorrow. It has been a full and joyous life.
In 1998, Arlene and her sisters moved their parents from their home in West
Texas to be near family in Houston. Arlene cared for them tirelessly, visiting daily for many years, her mother lived to be 101 years old under her care. In 2018, Arlene was diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
She was preceded in death by, her eldest daughter Tonya Jean Jolly Hamilton, her mother Mary Christopher Harvey, her father Lilburn Harvey, her husband Billy Hale, and her children’s father, Troy Jolly.
She is survived by her sister, Paula Harvey Blacklock; and brother-in-law, Charles Blacklock of Arlington, sister, Lenora Harvey Land; and brother-in-law Leroy Land of Houston; her children, Tracy Jolly of Grapevine, Todd and Tina Clay of Bedford; and her grandchildren, Nicole Jolly of Chicago, IL, Calain and Sarah Hamilton of Waller,
Tx, Joshua Waylon Powers and Lindsay Dejongeof Iowa, Kevina and Kelsey Bedair of Bedford, Tx; and great-grandchildren Syrus , Lilianna, Gregory, Niko, CJ, Braxton, Lola Jean, Cayden, Carter, and Niklous.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Parkinson’s Foundation.