Born July 31st, 1944 in Lebanon, Missouri to James Z Tatum and Jippie Mae Tatum. She graduated high school and moved to Springfield, Mo where she worked for years and married her longtime sweetheart Billy Joe Richardson and had their daughter Marion Joel. Unfortunately, the marriage resulted in divorce but they remained great friends. Some years later, she and her daughter Marion moved from Springfield to be closer to her parents and made a home in Colorado. While living in Fort Collins she received her business degree from Aims Community College. Luree became a renowned well respected business owner and entrepreneur. She managed restaurants and was an outstanding Sales Executive. Luree became a foster parent, mentor and advocate to young people for many years.
Luree had so many great accomplishments in her life and overcame constant uphill battles and illness at every turn. Although she is now walking the streets of gold, her journey here on earth was not always an easy one. She was attacked in life with debilitating diseases like Lupus, a brain tumor and metastasized sarcoidosis along with other challenges. The enemy tried to destroy her early in life, But God…God said no Satan this is my good and faithful servant and you will not take her, I have great plans for her. Luree always said the Lord spoke to her and said he would heal her of all her infirmities and He did just that. Her faith in God was her strength and the Holy Spirit was her guide. Luree’s parents were Christian and she became a Christian at a very young age. Ordained as a minister in January 2004 she became known as Pastor Luree. She founded the Ark of the Word of Life Church and her vision was to serve the people and tell as many as she could about the man called Jesus. Her work also included a television broadcast ministry, traveling to Africa and throughout the United States spreading the gospel. She authored books, pamphlets, prayed and counseled with many. She started the women’s ministry Women’s Time Out (WTO) and fed and clothed the homeless. People were born again and received deliverance under her ministry. She forged lasting relationships everywhere she went. To sum up her life it would be “But God…” Her message will be remembered around the world.
Luree was a single parent that raised six children on her own. She was the matriarch of the family. When she retired she resided with her daughter in Aurora, Co and still continued her ministry of prayer and counseling up to the time of her passing.
She is survived by her daughters Marion Joel Tatum, Cora Tatum, Lisa Tatum, Kyrah Tatum, Ebony Tatum and Jacqueline Davis, along with her ex-husband and friend Billy Joe Richardson. Her remaining siblings are James Tatum and his children-Vincent, Katrina, Kristen, Justin and Kristina. Barbara Davis and her husband Melvin Davis along their children-Jacqueline, Adrian and Emmanuel. Frank Tatum (youngest sibling) and his wife Recy Tatum - children Tammy, Toni, Brian, Shannon and Jasmine. She also had three grandchildren Dion Tatum, Demetrius Tatum and Braxton Tatum and two great grandchildren Giselle and Gianna. She leaves behind many friends and loved ones.
Her legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of everyone she interacted with as well as those she reached but never met.
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