Family, friends remember life of Bree Lovan

Hands were lifted as praise and worship music filled Munford Gymnasium at Willow Springs High School Saturday afternoon. Family and friends of BreAnna Lynn Lovan gathered to celebrate her life with tears and laughter along the way.

Bree was a 26-year-old second-grade teacher at Willow Springs Elementary in 2017 when she learned she had leukemia. Following her diagnosis, the community rallied to support Bree and her husband, Jeff. A benefit held that fall included butcher stock, a welder, a guided gigging trip, and much more. 

“We’ve had so much community support and so many people who have carried us through the darkest times and the hardest moments,” said Jeff. “Bree touched everyone with her big heart and huge smile. Even when she was sick or got bad news, she was always positive.”

Bree continued her battle against leukemia until this past week, leaving this earth at the age of 30. A complete obituary appears on page 3.

“She wasn’t in a hurry to go to heaven, but she was more than ready,” Jeff said. “Her heart was full. She believed she would be healed here or in heaven. Those were both great options for her and whatever form it came in, she was going to celebrate.”

“There’s a lot of comfort in that,” added Janet Ary, Bree’s mother. 

Jeff and the rest of the family wanted to give special thanks to friends Randy, Josh, Jim, Rick (Gob), and Linda Owens.

“By hand, they built Bree’s casket,” said Jeff. “They have worked through the night to make this happen in time. It is perfect for her. I’m just so thankful these guys would stop what they were doing and go out of their way to do that for us and for Bree. She loved them – that’s part of the crew we went to the mountains with.”

He said the timber for the casket had been cut from their farm, with plans to use it in their new house. Jeff said Bree loved the mountains, the beach, and especially Hawaii. But of the mountains, “she would say, ‘If heaven is anything like this…’” To celebrate her love of the mountains, a mountain scene was hand carved on the casket as well.

“Bree lived her life to the fullest. She crammed more into her 30 years than a lot of people do into 70 or 80. We’re not promised another day,” said Jeff. Bree always encouraged people to live life with passion, but also to find joy and peace through faith, he said.

“There are no more sick days. Those are over for her,” said Jeff. “We are heartbroken. We’re hurt. We’re sad. But we find comfort and joy in that the person we love is no longer carrying that load.”

Funeral services on Saturday were officiated by Bree and Jeff’s friends Clayton Lile and Scott Foster. 

Lile expressed thanks to all those who had who texted, called, brought food, and showed support for the family in numerous ways.

“In her final hours, she listened to praise and worship music,” said Lile. “She wanted to worship God…Bree was light-hearted and fun, but she was also whole-hearted.” 

He added that she loved being a wife, a daughter, and a sister. “She loved whole-heartedly.”

In his remarks, Foster encouraged everyone to remember and help Jeff in the coming days.

“This is a gut punch. And the first thing you have to do after you’ve been punched in the gut is get your air back,” he said. 

Foster said Bree’s love of life and her faith are part of the legacy she leaves. 

“The healing she got is forever. She left a legacy that’s wide and it’s deep. She loved life,” said Foster. “As much as it hurts here, it’s a celebration in heaven.”

 

Memorial donations

To honor Bree’s memory and her love for children, donations are being accepted at West Plains Bank in Willow Springs or at Willow Springs schools for the Bree Lovan Memorial Education Center. 

“We want to continue to celebrate Bree’s life and to celebrate her legacy, and to build it,” said Jeff. “She aspired to be a mother. Her love and passion for kids was huge. We want to launch something bigger than all of us.”

Jeff pointed to the fact special education students are served in mobile facilities at the school, as well as the gifted program, of which Bree was a part during her school days. Jeff said he hopes to learn the “greatest desires and needs” for the school and to be able to move forward.

“We’re going to build Bree’s legacy through some kind of educational center that can help kids for generations to come,” he said. “It will take a lot of hard work, a lot of money, and the hand of God to bless it, but we’re going to build it for the community. We can take a bad situation and bring a lot of good from it by developing something Bree could be proud of and the community can be proud of.”

“And she would want that,” added Janet. “There are so many people who have helped…This is a small way for the family to give back.”

Look for more information on the efforts in the Howell County News as plans grow and evolve.