
My Uncle Lamar was gentle, kind, adventurous and listened.  I felt so special when with him.  I got the pleasure of spending part of several summers with him, Margaret and Aunt Dewanda.  Margaret and I made unforgettable memories, especially since she was learning how to drive one of those summers and we got the jeep stuck on a one way bridge. 

A huge stand out memory for me was catching and eating trout with Uncle Lamar at Cloud Nine Ranch.  I had never had trout!  It is still my favorite fish to eat to this day.  He was such a cool person and tried to related to me as a young teen and achieved doing so.  I was this Mississippi kid that had not experienced much and he intended to give me experiences canoeing, fishing, camping and so much more.  Experiences that I will never forget and will last a life time and beyond.  

I still have a great love for kayaking, canoeing and trout thanks to Uncle Lamar.  He also taught me, like my Mom, to look for the spirit in others, to give, and listen. 

He was so kind that he even acknowledged when I was having pains that girls sometimes do.  He comforted and acknowledged in a way like no male figure in my life ever quite had.  I knew I mattered.

It's amazing how some people can so easily influence you.  Uncle Lamar was one of those special people.

I miss my Uncle Lamar, but I plan to see him again.

With love and with much gratitude for having spent quality time with him, I honor Uncle Lamar's legacy of having influenced and helped others.

Kim Shaw Mettenbrink

My Dad was a simple Man, he loved his family, good friends and good food. He hated curry and hot sauce and always had to have lemon juice on his salad. I have great memories of just being outdoors with him. I still do not know my trees like my Dad. All the hunting and fishing memories, too many to tell.  My best fishing  memory would be fishing for brown trout on the Illinois River in Oklahoma. Just the two of us would drive all the way over there, just to fish for the day. Took skill to catch the bait and even greater skill to catch the fish.   Growing up as his only son, I got to see a side of him, I don't think to many people saw. My Dad was a Marine, he saw things in a black and white, no grey, perspective. He had a very strong since of right and wrong. I remember when I was about 12, we were on out way to cut firewood at the 80 acres. We were hit with a snowball that almost shattered the windshield. Dad calmly exited the truck, walked up to the fraternity house from where the snowball was thrown. He grabbed the first young man he came to, and asked to use the frat houses phone to  call the campus police. He shut them down before somebody was going to get hurt. (probably them). Dad once told me he was sent home a lot in high school for fighting. (the Irish in him). I asked my grandfather, Elvie, about this and he said with a smile, he was always fighting with his brother Herold and laughed. In my eyes, my Dad was a true Hero. He was never afraid to stand up or get in someone's face, for what was right. My Dad was a do-er, a stand in the gap Christian. Whatever the church needed, he was on board, doing it. Even parking cars. I have precious memories of him teaching me to shoot,  And to see the ol Marine teach my 8 year old son Corbin, to shoot, what a blessing. Dad even made Corbin a special smaller rifle stock, which will be passed down for generations. My Dad was there for you, he had your back. There is a big hole missing in this family. We will see him again.

I think of my Dad very often since moving by a lake. He would have loved it here. It is because of my Dad I learned to enjoy and appreciate nature. He was always encouraging us to learn and try new things. After all he was a professor and liked to teach. He actually taught me how to shoot a rifle and a pistol. 
Once, when he went out of town to teach a weekly class. He asked me if I could check and rebait his trotline. I had helped him set it out. Later that week I asked a sweet guy friend to go with me, just thinking he had trotline experience. Lol he did not. As I was backing the jeep down to the water, I noticed my friend was getting anxious. It was getting dark. I thought all guys would be like my Dad or brother. Poor guy, he was happy to come along but I pretty much had to do everything. Dad had taught me to paddle a boat and bait trotlines. Needless to say, the man I married would have to know about fishing and running trotlines, like my Dad. 
One of my last conversations I had with Dad we talked about how he was always encouraging us to learn new things. He was a walking encyclopedia of knowledge and stories. For instance, when I was in gymnastics, he built me a balance beam to the exact height and width. He was a talented craftsman and could build almost anything. I have a few pieces of furniture in my home that he built which I cherish. A daily reminder of dad is that around 3:00pm we would enjoy an afternoon cup of coffee. I was always his coffee buddy. 
I have so many wonderful memories. The last one being a big old “bear hug” and a kiss on the cheek. Thanks for being such a great Dad.  I love you and miss you terribly! 


My relationship with the Love family started with their son, Jeems. We met at a Meet of Champions track and field competition in Little Rock Arkansas. He was a track star, and I was a pole vaulter. Our friendship grew during high school. 
The Loves had a membership at Cloud Nine Ranch in Missouri (Google it). Jeems invited me to spend a weekend of camping with his family at the ranch. We had planned to “rough it” in the mountains. However, we spent more time coming back to their camper around mealtimes. I grew up camping with meals of chicken noodle soup and Wolf Brand chili. This is not how the Loves camped! Lamar would BBQ a pork roast, cook trout, smoke a turkey, etc. Dwanda would add all the fixings to complement the meal. Including deserts from scratch. We had many other outings like the time Lamar, Jeems and I went trout fishing on the White river. We forgot to bring plates but that was not a problem for Lamar. He served us meals on our boat paddles. I once asked Lamar if he has his pliers on him? His response was “do I have my pants on”? He always had a pair of pliers in his back pocket. 
Fast forward, Patti and I had two children. This is where Lamar and Dwanda became MeMe and PaPa Love. Our children could not have had better grandparents. We had many trips to Cloud Nine. I did not mention that the Loves had a jeep, canoes and four wheelers for entertainment. MeMe’s favorite mode of transportation on the river was in an innertube. Papa was always manning one of the canoes. Papa also had a nick name of Ozark Dundee. Earned because of all his outdoor activities of hunting and fishing. We all had great times together. 
When MeMe and PaPa retired to Florida. PaPa would take us fishing and MeMe would show us where we could find the best seashells. There are so many stories I could tell you about MeMe and PaPa and the impact they have had on me and my family. PaPa you were the best and we all miss you so much! Thank you for being such a big part of my life


Gail and I were fortunate to visit with Lamar and Dwanda at Willow Grove before the covid virus came along.   Lamar told us some stories from University of Arkansas and his work with agricultural classes (and politicians) across the state.  If you know Lamar, you know the stories were interesting and funny.
Many years ago, when our boys were about grade school age, we got to visit with Lamar and Dwanda at the Cloud Nine camping resort in Arkansas.  The boys,  now mid-30's, still recall how much fun it was and how many different things they got to do during the visit.  
Lamar, Harold, and Nina grew up on a farm near Risco MO, in Missouri's Bootheel which is the most productive row crop region in the state.   Lamar and Harold both had careers in agriculture.  I recall they told me how their father, Elvie, many years ago was into "high tech" agriculture before people knew what it meant -- instead of using one or two mules, he plowed with a horse and two mules.  It gave better control and increased production.   Historical perspective!
Speaking of historical perspective, Lamar mentioned his 90th birthday and said he'd give about anything to be 80 again.  It's all a matter of perspective.  Keep that in mind as we go down the road behind him.  Hey, Lamar did say that with a little grin!    

Hey Buddy,

Man do I miss hearing that everyday and seeing your contagious smile. Words cannot express how much you have touched my life. Remember that time Dwanda was in the hospital and you and I were left to fend for ourselves, haha! We looked at each other and said, now what? We were lost without her direction. Oh the laughs we had together. Remember that time I used baking soda instead of baking powder in the cornbread, and you didn’t want to hurt my feelings so you stuffed it in your coffee cup and put the lid on as if you had eaten it. You’re heart is so warm and gentle. I remember the day you taught me how to make your famous peanut brittle! What a blessing it has been to pass on your famous recipe and techniques. Now I can make it for Dwanda whenever she wants it and boy does she love it. Before you left us, you and I talked. We talked about you not having to worry about Dwanda when you were no longer with us. I made a promise to you that I would take care of her and love her unconditionally for the rest of her days, and that is what I am going to do. Spoil her rotten and always preserve her dignity and find ways to improve her quality of life. Dwanda and I made a cookbook that represents your lives together and all your favorite recipes. I know you would be proud. I’ve become quite the good cook these days thanks to your lovely wife. She has taught me so much! Oh and Phoebe and I have become great pals; boy does she adore her Papa. Her and Meme spend an hour every night with each other. It’s a beautiful thing. Well Buddy, I appreciate you and I miss you everyday. You and Dwanda have created a beautiful family, and I admire that so much. Thank you for making me a part of your family as well. I love you Buddy, until we meet again.

Love, Emily 

I was so blessed to have my precious Uncle Lamar as a part of my life!  I have fond memories of his infectious laugh and the way he interacted with us kids as we were growing up.  I never doubted that he loved me.  I especially remember the year we were at Oklahoma State with our young children and we would drive to Fayetteville AR to visit them. My children were just a little younger than Margaret and the three of them had a ball playing outside—especially on the trampoline.  He was always glad to see us and they treated us like we were special!  I know he is still laughing and loving in his heavenly home.

We are so sorry to hear of Lamar's passing.  Both he and Dwanda were wonderful friends while they lived here in White Stone.  One of my favorite memories of Lamar was his expertise in cooking fresh fish on a grill in a large cast iron pot.  Once when we visited them in Florida, we enjoyed the fish and Dwanda's hush puppies so much that Lamar presented us with a brand new cast iron pot to cook fish at home.   He was a very special person and we loved him very much.  Our prayers are with Dwanda and all the family.

Deepest Regards and condolences to Dwanda and the family.  God holds Lamar's hand now and we are grateful.

So sorry to hear of Dr. Love's passing. He had a profound impact on me as a student at the university. He was definitely one of my favorite professors and made me feel at home at Fayetteville when I was homesick for the delta.  prayers for the family. 

My sympathy to all of the family. I hope you have peace in knowing he influenced many lives during his tenure at the University of Arkansas.  He was always everyone's  "good buddy."   

Too many good memories to even begin to share!  UBC days will be with us forever.   One of the stellar times and seasons in our mutual blessed lives.  May the peace that passes understanding encompass all of you.  Remember H D's " ONWARD AND UPWARD.    Lamar has beat us there!

Just a note for Lamar and let you know how much he meant to me.  We worked together in the Agricultural Education Department at the University of Arkansas.  We all thought alot of Lamar and always looked to him for leadershiip. He did so much for many young people that went on to teach agriculture in high school.  We will all miss him and would like to see him.

OBITUARY

Edwin Lamar Love

10 December, 1929 – 28 March, 2020

McEwen Funeral Service-Mint Hill Chapel

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