Celebration of Life for Lela Mae Rothell age 85, of Chattanooga, Oklahoma, will be at 11:00 A.M., Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at the First Baptist Church, 601 3rd Street, Chattanooga, Oklahoma. Burial will follow in the Chattanooga Cemetery under the direction of Jackson Funeral Home of Frederick.  Mrs. Rothell passed away Saturday, January 25, 2025, at the Comanche County Memorial Hospital in Lawton, surrounded by her loved ones.

The family will receive friends and family on Tuesday evening, January 28, 2025, at the Jackson Funeral Home Chapel, 921 West Gladstone Avenue, Frederick, from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.

Lela Mae Mathews was born March 5, 1939, in Chattanooga, Oklahoma, to Floyd Hogan and Lillie Lou (Giles) Mathews.  She attended Chattanooga Public Schools. She was united in marriage to Dale Wayne Boxley on February 6, 1959, in Frederick, Oklahoma.  To this union was born five children, Charlotte, Monica, Joe David, Carlene, and Cindy. Dale preceded her in death on November 29, 1977.  She later married Joe Dean Rothell on October 15, 1982, in Chattanooga, Oklahoma.  Joe Dean preceded her in death on March 18, 2011.

Lela Mae was previously employed by Frybrant in Frederick, Chatty Drugstore, City of Chattanooga as Civic Center Custodian, Chatty First Baptist Church Nursey Worker, Chatty First Baptist Church Custodian, Chattanooga School Cafeteria Staff, Great Plains of Lawton Community Center Coordinator. Lela volunteered for many positions during her life.  She was a Candy Striper at Tillman County Memorial Hospital in Frederick, she taught Sunday School Classes. She cared for many of the sick in "her" community and especially the elderly. She enjoyed serving in her church and helping organize Baby/Wedding Showers, Parties, Senior Luncheons, and her FAVORITE was Funeral Dinners. She knew everybody, it seemed!  Her kids always remembered seeing her reading her Bible early every morning and taking them to church.  Knowing Jesus was the most important for her.  She was a very strong Woman of God!

Lela Mae loved baking cookies with the babies, and they knew there would always be plenty of batter left on the beaters.  The whole family got their sweet tooth from her. She loved cookies, ice cream and candy (which was always bought JUST IN CASE the kids came to visit)! No one ever mastered her Thanksgiving Dressing.

Her hobbies were working in her yard and planting and caring for her flowers and feeding the birds. She loved her "crossword" books that were actually "circle the word" books! She loved fellowship and visiting with people and playing cards, especially Skip-Bo. She could be found every Tuesday at the Community Center Potluck Lunch, Eating and Playing Cards! Lela Mae was a fun lady; she loved dressing up for the holidays and keeping everyone in stitches. Last but not least….. "IYKYK" (If you know, you know).  She Was A Real TOOT!!!!!!

Lela was best known as "Mom" and "Nana" to everyone. She is survived by four daughters, Charlotte Watson of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, Monica Bishop and her husband Gary of Chattanooga, Oklahoma, Carlene Whittington and her husband Jeff of Grandfield, Oklahoma, and Cindy Torda and her husband Art of Perrysburg, Ohio; one sister, Jane Loveless of Marlow, Oklahoma; eighteen grandchildren, thirty-five great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews, and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Floyd and Lillie Mathews; both of her husbands, Dale Boxley and Joe Dean Rothell; one son, Joe David Boxley; four brothers, Robert Mathews, Eugene Mathews, Dennis Mathews, and Nathaniel Mathews; and three sisters, Josephine Testerman, Janelle White, and Judy Rothell.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Chattanooga Cemetery Fund, in memory of Lela Mae Boxley Rothell.