Louella Hitchings

Mom was born, Goldie Louella Mills in San Bernardino, CA, on April 20, 1932 to Elgie and Opal Mills. Opal and Elgie later divorced, and Opal remarried W.E. "Dick" McCrary who adopted Mom and raised her as his own. Mom hated the name Goldie, and preferred going by her middle name Louella or Lou. Mom was raised on California St. in Long Beach with her younger sister, Doris. Mom loved to sing, and one fond memory Doris had, was of she and Mom doing dishes together and singing "You Are My Sunshine" and Mom was harmonizing with her. That was a tradition that she would continue with us, her children, and that we carry on to this day. Mom was a popular teen, and loved going to dances and the beach with her friends. She also did some modeling and was involved in the drama club and was a majorette at Jordan High School. She graduated from Jordan in 1949. Mom started dating our dad, Brent Hitchings when she was 19 and he 22. They lived in the same neighborhood, but for years Dad just thought of her as a "little kid". That changed when Dad came home from flight school in Pensacola, Florida in 1951 and saw how much Mom had "grown up." After only six months of dating, Dad proposed and Mom said "Yes". They were engaged only two months before they wed, because as Mom put it, "I didn't believe in long engagements." They were married on March 8, 1952, and made their home in Long Beach, first in an apartment, then a duplex, and finally in the home on Plymouth St. that Dad helped build in 1956, where Mom still resided after Dad's death in 2005. Many wonderful memories were created in that home with family and friends. Mom had the gift of hospitality and welcomed many into our home to share in the love and laughter of our family. Mom gave birth to us girls, Kathleen (Kathy) in 1953, Kimberly (Kim) in 1956, and Lisa in 1959. She was an at-home mom, and was very active in the lives of us girls, from PTA to Campfire Girls, Brownies, slumber parties, church, etc. Mom began taking us to North Long Beach Brethren Church when we were very young, and persuaded Dad to start attending later. We all attended there for many years. Later, Mom and Dad began attending Seacoast Grace Church in Los Alamitos, where Mom continued until her health prevented her from doing so. She enjoyed watching the podcasts of the service after that.Mom loved being a part of the choir in both churches, and made many friends. Mom loved volleyball, and played in a league when we were younger. She still loved watching beach volleyball on television especially during the Olympics in her later years. Mom also loved doing needlework, and had created many beautiful pieces through techniques that she learned through her embroidery guild (EGA). She made many friends there, and always loved meeting with them, especially at Stitch-and-Chat, where the ladies would visit in a home setting, eat and work on projects together. Mom's other passion was her garden and her birds. She had many flowers and plants that she loved to tend to, and she fed seed to her sparrows every morning and nectar to the hummingbirds. Her favorite birds, though, were a pair of blue jays that she named Petey and Mrs. Petey. She fed them peanuts in the shell that they would take and hide in her lawn. Mom went home to be with the Lord on August 20, 2016. She is now in heaven; forever united with her Savior, Jesus, and reunited with our Dad, the love of her life here on earth. Mom is survived by her children, Kathy Muis (Mike), Kim Harris (Warren), and Lisa Parnell.She is also survived by four grandchildren, Gene Muis, Lauren Alvarado (Anthony), Joshua Parnell (Jennifer), and Jeremy Parnell, and seven great-grandchildren, Jesse and Isaac Quintana(& mom, Rachel Quintana), Conner Muis, Anthony Jr. "Bubs", Gabriel and Lilliana Louella Alvarado, and Bailey and Zayckery Parnell, and her sister, Doris Snow. She is preceded in death by her mother and adoptive father, Opal and Dick McCrary, husband, Brent Hitchings, brother-in-law Stanley Snow, and grandson, Shaun Muis. Interment will be Thursday August 25, 2016 at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Long Beach, CA. The family wishes that it be a private interment and asks for their privacy. There will be an upcoming Celebration of Life and Reception that will be held in September 2016, so watch for the times, date and driving directions. The date for the Celebration of Life Service is: Saturday, September 17th at 11am at Bethany Baptist Church, 2250 Clark Ave., Long Beach. On Clark, south of the 405 freeway between E. Willow St. & E Stearns St. Reception immediately following the service. If sending flowers, they must be delivered to the church Friday, Sept.16th no later than 4pm, or in lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in Mom's name to the Widows' & Orphans' Trust Fund, c/o L.B.P.O.A. 2865 Temple Ave. Long Beach, CA 90755 (www.lbpoa.org./about/widows-orphans).

Louella Hitchings

April 20, 1932 - August 20, 2016

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Louella Hitchings

April 20, 1932 - August 20, 2016

COVID-19

Flowers & Gifts

Grief & Healing

Our Services

About Us

Obituaries

What We Do

Contact Information

365 Days of Grief Support