Obituary of Lura Lovell

Lura Merrill Lovell of Tucson, Arizona, passed on Friday, September 20, 2013 in the company of her family and dearest friends after a long illness. Lura was born on June 4, 1929 in Toledo, Ohio to Robert Max and Dora Winton Merrill. Lura graduated from Rock Island High School in June, 1947 and earned a Bachelor's degree in March, 1951 from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, where she met the love of her life, David Coulton Lovell. They married on April 7 of that year. In 1967, David and Lura formed Coulton Chemical Corporation to manufacture sulfuric acid in Toledo, Ohio, where the family moved in 1969. Following the birth of her third child, Robert, born with organic brain damage, Lura began a lifelong devotion to advocacy for people with developmental and mental illness and their families, acquiring years of vital experience negotiating the maze of essential services for her son and others in similar circumstances. In 1980, Lura cofounded NAMI of Greater Toledo. She was also a founding board member of the Ohio Alliance for the Mentally Ill. In 1985, she was elected chair of the Lucas County Mental Health board. Lura and David's love of the Sonoran desert drew them to Tucson, Arizona, where they built a home in 1989, joining the local community while also continuing to live and work in Toledo. In 1993, David and Lura negotiated the sale of Coulton Chemical and formed the David C. and Lura M. Lovell Foundation, which was funded with proceeds from the sale. Tragically, David was diagnosed with lung cancer in May, 1993 and died on July 18th of that year. The Lovell Foundation operates in both Toledo and Tucson and is dedicated to supporting programs in mental illness, integrative medicine, cultural and spiritual enrichment, and philanthropic education. The commitment of the extended family and longtime board members will continue the vital work of the foundation as Lura and David's profound legacy. Lura was also a founding director of The Bravewell Collaborative, served on the advisory board of the Arthritis Center, was vice-chair of the Weil foundation and a trustee of the Valley Foundation. Lura is survived by her children, Stephen, Ann, Robert and Sara. She is also survived by her ten grandchildren and her first great- grandchild. A Memorial "celebration" of Lu's life will take place from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on Friday, October 4, 2013, at Lu's home: 8400 N. National Drive, Tucson, AZ 85742. The family requests that in lieu of flowers donation may be made in Lura's name to: Interfaith Community Services (ICS), 2820 W. Ina Road, Tucson, AZ 85741-2502 www.icstucson.org 520-297-2738 x222. Condolences can be sent to: 4729 E. Sunrise Drive, Box 307, Tucson, AZ 85718.