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Warner Earl Lovell, Jr., of Norman, died January 17, 2013, after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was born April 12, 1944 in Fort Worth, Tex. When he was age eight his family-- parents and two sisters-- moved to Long Beach, Calif., where he grew up and graduated from high school with honors. Lovell left Long Beach in 1962 to attend the University of Oklahoma, where he graduated on the President's Honor Roll with a BA in journalism in 1966. While studying for one year on an MBA, he took some law courses, and it became obvious to him that he wanted to be an attorney. Lovell commented that the eternal debate between plaintiff v. defendant captivated his interest and compelled his vocational choice.
In 1970 Lovell graduated from the OU Law School and for the next 41 years practiced as a trial lawyer, mostly concentrating in family law. Twice he argued orally before the Oklahoma Supreme Court on cases which successfully established new precedent, one of which had national implications. He practiced with Fagin, Fagin and Fagin, P.C., then Fagin Hewitt Mathews and Fagin, P.C., then Fagin Lovell and Fagin, P.C., and in 1988, until retirement in 2011, he practiced as a sole practitioner. However, he was "of counsel" with The Able Law Firm from 1991 until 2011.
Lovell married Gwynetth Hobson on Sept. 3, 1966--a marriage which lasted 46 years until his death. He and his wife enjoyed traveling so much that they went on 47 cruises, including trips to 4 continents and numerous islands. As recently as 2012 they went on nine vacations. They always lived in Norman.
Athletics was always an important part of Lovell's life. As a boy, he was on numerous baseball, football (3 years undefeated), track, gymnastics, swimming and water polo teams. As an adult he competed in Master's division soccer teams for 10 years, and was an avid tennis player for decades, until November, 2012, winning several local tournaments. Lovell considered himself the No. 1 OU football fan. He was an OU cheerleader for four years (1964-67); only missed one OU home football game for 51 years (1962-2012) and attended every OU v. Texas game during that span. He and Gwyn attended many football away games, including in the states of Washington, California and Florida.
Some of Lovell's favorite times were social engagements with relatives--especially at Thanksgiving and Christmas--and hanging out with friends. He loved playing with and spoiling his granddaughter, Alex, of Norman. He spent much of his time studying national politics and OU sports teams.
Since 1970 he was a member of McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church, of Norman, as well as the Searchers Sunday School Class. Many of Lovell's best friends are in that class, and he always cherished the "friendly religious debates" which are the hallmark of that group and its social trips and parties. He was President of that class several times, but liked being its social chairperson much more.
He is survived by his wife, Gwynetth , of the home; his son David Scott of Greenville, S.C.; his daughter, Jennifer McCain, and son-in-law Mark McCain, of Norman; sister, Franca Jones, and brother-in-law David Jones, of Auburn, Ca.; granddaughter, Alex Morgan, of Norman; and numerous aunts, cousins, nephews, nieces, grandnephews. He was predeceased by his father, Warner, Sr., mother, Bobbie I. Lovell, and younger sister, Cheryl Ann Chalupsky.
Memorial services will be held at 1:00 pm, Wednesday, January 23 at McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church, in Norman. Visitation hours with the family will be from 2-4 pm, Tuesday, January 22, at Havenbrook Funeral Home, 3401 Havenbrook Street, Norman. Memorial donations can be made in Warner's name to McFarlin Foundation, McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 6390, Norman, Oklahoma, 73070. Arrangements for Warner and his family were placed in the care of the Vice family at Havenbrook Funeral Home. Online condolences may be shared at www.havenbrookfuneralhome.com
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