Loreta Kathleen (Dumas) Osteen

Osteen, Loreta Kathleen

It is with much sadness that the family of Kathleen Osteen announces her passing on the morning of March 28, 2020 at the age of 93 after her long struggle with Alzheimer’s. Kathleen grew up in Hill County, Texas. She was the youngest of eight children born to Bertha and William Oscar Dumas. Her father passed away when she was only three years old. The family lived on a farm and she worked in the fields even as a young child.

Kathleen married Buford Osteen on November 12, 1941. They soon moved to Sarasota, Florida where Buford was stationed with the Air Force before serving in the Pacific realm during WWII. During those years in Florida, Kathleen worked in a soda shop. She also won 2nd place in a beauty contest. Without a doubt, she should have won 1st place!

Kathleen believed in making her own way and always held a job at a time when it wasn’t commonplace for women to work outside of the home. After the war, she and Buford moved to Waco, Texas where she began her 35-year career at Southwestern Bell working as an operator and they started their family. In 1969, Kathleen and Buford moved to Midland, Texas due to his job transfer. Kathleen continued to work for Southwestern Bell in Midland, holding many different positions. When she retired in 1980, she was in a management position, assigning schedules and job duties to telephone linemen. In 2012, they moved to Flower Mound, Texas to be close to family.

Kathleen and Buford made many beautiful memories together. They enjoyed boating, dancing and an active social life with family and friends. She and Buford traveled together all over the United States and to Europe. Kathleen had a competitive spirit and loved to play games. She especially loved to win! She excelled at 42 (dominoes), bridge, and other card games, and loved to play the slot machines in Las Vegas. She liked reading, painting ceramics, and participating in church activities and bible studies. She loved collecting recipes and cooking. She was a phenomenal bargain shopper, and was always thinking of others and buying them gifts.

Kathleen leaves behind her loving and devoted husband of 78 years, Buford, her daughter, Pam (Don) Hutcheson, her daughter Carla (Johnny) Neal, grandchildren, Robin Palmer, Ryan Hutcheson, Sara (Brian) Monzingo, Alex Neal, Daniel Neal, great grandchildren, Chelsea (Patrick) Radney, Josh Smith, and great great grandchildren, Aniston and Lachlan Radney. Another great great grandchild, Allexa Jaimes, preceded her in death.

A private burial service will be held on April 1st at Ridge Park Cemetery in Hillsboro, Texas, and a celebration of life will be held in Flower Mound, Texas at a later date.

Kathleen was a lover, a giver, a fighter, and a beauty. We are going to miss her dearly. She was so very brave in the face of her Alzheimer’s diagnosis more than 12 years ago. In honor of Kathleen’s memory, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association or your favorite charity.

Finally, the family wishes to thank the staff at Rosewood Assisted Living and Memory Care for their loving care of Kathleen over the last 7 ½ years. And thank you to Ardent Hospice, especially Mary and LaQuisha who treated her with such love and tenderness during the last few days of her life.