Beryle Lovelace

Universally loved for his general can-do, warm heart, and genial spirit, Beryle Cleston Lovelace passed to his beloved Lord early February 5, 2022 at age 93.
Beryle was born in Levelland, Texas, July 27, 1928, to Rev. Weaver Erasmus Lovelace and Marie Taylor Lovelace. He called Morton, Tx., his home town and graduated from Morton High School in 1945.  He was called to God's work early in life, working revival meetings with his Dad all over West Texas and eastern New Mexico. Some of his first work was assistant pastor and music director at First Baptist Church Tucumcari, N.M., 1947-48, and music and education director for First Baptist Church, Dublin, Tx., 1949-51.  He earned a B.A. at Howard Payne College (now University) in Brownwood, Tx., in 1951. He met the love of his life Elouise Roberts there, and they married June 12, 1952.
Beryle was music and education director for Park Heights Baptist Church, San Angelo, Tx., 1951-53. In 1953 he and Elouise moved to Okmulgee, Ok., where he served as music director at First Baptist Church, and had their first child, Byron Kent, while there.  In 1954 they moved to Corsicana, Tx., where Beryle was music director for First Baptist Church 1954-57, and in 1955 were blessed with their second child, Laura Beth.  Beryle served as minister of music and education at First Baptist Church Brownfield, Tx, 1957-59.  Beryle served Bethany Baptist Church in Dallas, Tx., while attending the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Tx., where he earned a Masters in Religious Education in 1962. He served as minister of music and education at First Baptist Church Littlefield, Tx., 1962-65.
While in Littlefield Beryle and Elouise were able to visit Japan, and subsequently felt called to the mission field. In 1965 they were employed as missionary associates by the Southern Baptist Convention's Foreign Mission Board (now International Mission Board) to serve in Japan. The first assignment was to Kanto Plains Baptist Church, an English speaking church in Tokyo, formed by US Air Force servicemen during the VietNam War build-up at nearby Yokota AFB. The membership had asked the FMB for someone to help with music and education ministries. Beryle and Elouise served there from 1965 until 1972. In 1972 Beryle served as interim pastor, and then from 1973-76 as religious education and church music consultant for churches in the Tokyo area, and assistant to the business manager of the Japan Baptist Mission, Tokyo, Japan.  In 1976 Beryle began an extended stint as the Japan Baptist Mission Business Manager in downtown Tokyo.
Beryle and Elouise moved to Okinawa for their last few years of service before retirement, and served as ministers of music and discipleship at Koza Baptist Church, Okinawa, Japan. They retired  from the mission field Sept. l, 1993.
Once stateside, Beryle and Elouise enjoyed being near family and friends in north Texas. They continued the many friendships made with other missionaries and military families they knew from living and traveling in the Far East. Beryle and Elouise served part-time at Creekside Baptist Church in Richardson, Tx., 1996-2012. Beryle was very active from 1995 to 2019, travelling and singing with the The Singing Men of Texas, a men's choir made up of music ministers from Baptist churches all over Texas. Along with singing, Beryle's hobbies included fixing things (such as his many antique clocks) and watching football, and they both loved JAG and NCIS on TV.  In 2020 Beryle and Elouise sold their house and moved into assisted living because of their failing health.
Beryle was preceded in death by his parents, and his younger brother Hoyt and his wife Lin. Beryle is survived by his wife of 70 years, Elouise, their son Byron and his wife Gail, grandson Jordan with wife Louisa and great grandchildren Otto and Billie Lou, and Jordan's mother Beverly Miller. Beryle is also survived by daughter Laura and her husband Michael Bracken and grandson Parker Bracken.
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