Person:Lora Tullis (4)

Published in the Idaho Statesman on 7/24/2007: Lora Hytrek Lora Alverta Tullis was born July 18, 1929 at the family home in Nampa, Idaho. She was the third child of Francis Elizabeth Pascoe Tullis and Orval Henry Tullis. She was a lively, fun-loving child who liked to follow her older sister Columbine around, and adored her older brother Robert and mothered her little sister Orva. Lora was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in December of 1938. She attended the Nampa Schools where she twirled baton and later led the band a Majorette during her high school years. She graduated in 1947 and went on to attend the University of Idaho as a member of the Delta Delta Delta Sorority. During the summers, working as a telephone operator in Nampa, she met the Love of her life, Leo Hytrek. His family had moved across the street; he just returning from military service. They married June 30, 1950 in Winnemucca, Nev. Shortly thereafter they moved to Oregon where Leo became a logger. Lora delivered a baby girl, Leanne, January 31, 1951, and on August 24, 1953 welcomed a baby boy, Lonny Lee. Lora was delighted when they returned home to her family and friends in Nampa in 1954. She was blessed with another child, Lance D., September 29, 1956. That same year, on November 30, Leo and Lora were sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple. Lora was active in her community. As a member of the Woman's Century Club she chaired the Home Show and the Style Show, and hosted many of the meetings. She even gave adult swimming lessons at the Community Center. She took the Young Women to girls' camp every summer, and taught the youth how to ballroom dance; taking teams to dance pageants in Utah. She also established a field-work crew in the summers to provide jobs to her children and their friends. The 5-15 man crew would pick cherries and apples, hoe beets and potatoes, and detassle corn. It was one of the few summer jobs available for high school students at the time. Leo took great joy in his role as Scoutmaster for decades, but nary a merit badge was earned without Lora by his side. From retreats, to cook-outs, to first aide expeditions, she was there to lend a hand. Lora loved to travel. Whether going cruising or to the mountains, her bag was always packed and ready to go. In all her travels she loved the family reunions in the mountains the most. Lora made her first anniversary cake for her parent's 40th wedding anniversary in 1961. Her great success penned her that role for nearly every wedding and anniversary for the entire family thereafter; even late into her 70's. Like her mother, she never missed a family ballgame. Whether the event was football, basketball, soccer, wrestling, track or tiddlywinks, if a sibling, child, grandchild, niece or nephew was competing, she was in the stands; It didn't matter if was just a few miles away, or many states. Lora was known as grandma throughout the community. Her door was always open and her generosity of a hot meal or a welcome bed was well known. She was often found in the kitchen cooking for family and friends, even at two in the morning. She was happiest when family was around. Nothing was more important to her than family, as was evident to the many that crossed her threshold. Lora left this world on July 18, 2007 on her 78th birthday. She was preceded in death by her husband Leo. She will be missed terribly by her siblings Robert and Columbine Tullis and Orva Taylor; her children Leanne Turner and Lonny and Lance Hytrek; her grandchildren Shawn, Shane and Ryan Turner, Kelly, Brad, Brett and Brendan Hytrek, Kimber Hess and Krista Frahm; and her six great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 24, 2007 in the Nampa LDS 11th Ward Chapel, 121 North Canyon Street, Nampa. Interment will follow at Kohlerlawn Cemetery. A viewing will be held from 6-9 p.m. Monday at Zeyer Funeral Chapel, 83 N. Midland Blvd., Nampa and from 11 a.m.-12:45 p.m. on Tuesday at the church prior to services.