Loretta Mae Crittenden passed away peacefully in her sleep on March 17, 2020 at Autumn Leaves of Tulsa in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She suffered a severely debilitating stroke in 2000 but miraculously survived and continued to serve the Lord for more than 20 additional years. She was 89 years of age.

Loretta was born in Stilwell, Oklahoma on August 29, 1930 to Maude Mae (Dickerson) Abbott and Louis Israel Abbott. She grew up in and around Stilwell, a small farming community in eastern Oklahoma as the youngest daughter of rural family. She married Robert (Bob) Dudley, of Stilwell, at the age of 20. Fate intervened when her husband was tragically killed four years later. Loretta then moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma and went to work for American Airlines at the old City Ticket Office in downtown. She met and married Dale Darrow Crittenden in 1958. Together, they had two daughters, Robin and Gina.

Loretta was an amazingly talented woman. She enjoyed gardening, building, designing clothing and sewing just about anything. She was active in her church for decades and attentive to the needs of neighbors and friends. After managing finances and helped with sales at a local business for many years, Loretta retired from her position as a Vice President in 1988.

About this time, her first grandson was born�followed by another grandson two years later. The third, her first granddaughter, was born one year after that. The fourth was another grandson who arrived almost three years later. She was now very busy with her new role as "Grandmother" to Blake, Drew, Evan Kathryn and Jordan. She loved being able to share so many precious moments with each of them.

After Loretta's stroke, she was limited in many ways; however, God still had a plan for her and worked through her to inspire and help others. She continued to uplift her friends and caregivers with just her smile or a simple touch of her hand. For her daughters, she was the loving mother whose unshakable faith in Jesus Christ has guided them. For her grandchildren, she was the standard of a life lived for Jesus.

Loretta was preceded in death by her parents; her three sisters, Gretchen Ross, Lilly Coons and Delfa Abbott; her four brothers, Curtis Abbott, Troy Abbott, Grady Abbott and Bruce Abbott; her first husband, Robert Dudley; her infant son, Bobby Stephen Dudley; and her loving husband, Dale Crittenden.

She is survived by two daughters: Robin Baron (John) 1200 5th Street, Argyle, TX 76226 and Gina Johnson (Scott) 8719 E 86th Street, Tulsa, OK 74133. She is also survived by four grandchildren, Blake Chism (Maggie) of Towson, MD, Drew Chism of Cammack Village, AR, Evan Johnson of Tulsa, OK and Jordan Johnson (Kirah) of North Liberty, IA. In addition, she is also survived by four step-grandchildren: Nicole Nix, Heather Thurman, Andrea Kramer and Christopher Baron, all of the Tulsa, OK area. Loretta also had 14 great-grandchildren and numerous other relatives and friends.

During the COVIC-19 pandemic and the government suggestion of no more than 10 persons to gather, we will not have a memorial service at this time. We will have a celebration of Loretta's life when current circumstances have improved. Also, in lieu of flowers, please give a contribution to someone you know that has been affected by this virus, either through illness or loss of income.