Ladora Modean Gatewood-Cavanah

     Ladora Modean CAVANAH, age 89, died Sunday, September 12, 2021 at Charleton Methodist Hospital, Dallas, Texas, from complications due to COVID. 

     She was born February 25, 1932, at “Crossroads” a tiny community not far from Glen Rose, in Somervell County, to “Toby” William Harvey GATEWOOD & “Belle” Elizabeth Belle Zora LINDSEY-GATEWOOD.  Most of her life, she was known simply as “Modean” to family and close friends.  Her husband affectionately called her “Dean”, as well as many others who came to know her later in life. 

     Modean was a graduate of Sunset High School in Dallas.

     She was employed as a long-distance toll telephone operator with Southwestern Bell, in Dallas, during the early 1950s.  While working deep-nights on the switchboard, she became acquainted with her future husband, “Ken” Harvid Kenneth CAVANAH, who was posted at the nearby Duncanville Air Force Station.  Working late hours gave Ladora and Ken opportunities to converse between transmissions while call traffic was at a minimum.  The relationship blossomed and in a few months Ken proposed.  They were married in May 1955.  To this union, one child was born.

     They moved to Illinois where she was employed as a supervisor for Dixie Paper Company, but the family soon returned to her native state of Texas.

     In their golden years, Modean and Ken were owners of DC’s Quick Stop in Santa Anna, along with several other businesses within that city.

     Following the death of her husband, she was a part-time manager at the Red Barn in Glen Rose.

     Modean eventually retired and moved to Desoto where she resided for many years.

     She had a dynamic personality and made friends wherever she lived.  She was loved by all who knew her and will be sorely missed.

     Modean leaves behind to mourn and is survived by her devoted son, Darrell CAVANAH & his wife, Linda, of North Richland Hills; a loving brother, “Ray” Raborn GATEWOOD & his wife, Mary, of Ovilla; grandchildren, Kimberly CUPPS & husband Joey, of Santa Anna, and another granddaughter; great-grandchildren, Ranee WEISS & her husband, Dustin, David CUPPS & his wife, Kyla, and two other great-grandsons; great-great-grandchildren, Lydia, Kylee, Isiah and baby Lainey Samantha; step-niece, Kelly READY; and former sister-in-law Dora MITCHELL.

     Modean was predeceased by her mother in October 1977; her father & step-mother both in December 1997; and her husband in October 2001.

     She will have a viewing on Saturday, September 18, 2021 between 1 – 2 PM at the Wiley Funeral Home in Glen Rose, located at 504 Holden St. right off of SR67 behind the Red Barn convenient store.  Services are to follow immediately in the chapel at the funeral home.   

     After services, interment will take place at the Nancy Smith Cemetery on CR2016 in Somervell County, located about 7 miles southwest of Glen Rose off of SR67.