OBITUARY--- The Valley News Dispatch, Tarentum, Pa. - Mary Jean Roebuck Lovelace, 78, of Leechburg, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2006. - Born Dec. 25, 1927, in Vandergrift, a daughter of the late Wilbert and Abbie Lois (Wright) Roebuck Sr., she was raised in Vandergrift. On Oct. 22, 1949, she wed John C. Lovelace and had lived in Leechburg ever since. - Mrs. Lovelace graduated from Vandergrift High School, Pittsburgh School of Practical Nursing and St. Francis Medical Center School of Registered Nursing. She furthered her education at the Community College of Allegheny County and Penn State University, New Kensington. - She was a staff nurse at Citizens General Hospital, New Kensington, before retiring in 1989. After her retirement, she was a volunteer at West Haven Nursing Home, Washington Township. - She was a former member of First Baptist Church of North Vandergrift, and a member of the Second Baptist Church of Leechburg and AARP. She was a life member of both the Alle-Kiski NAACP and the Leechburg Area Museum and Historical Society. Mrs. Lovelace enjoyed researching local African American history, reading poetry and crafts. She also was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan. - In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Wilbert Roebuck Jr., and Vanley Roebuck; and two sisters, Hazel Obey and Lois Ann Ware. - She is survived by her husband of 56 years, John C. Lovelace; her son, Dr. Juan Carlos Lovelace of Washington, D.C.; her daughter, Carlita Lovelace Hines and husband, Thomas, of Lower Burell; a granddaughter, Kayci G. Hines; two stepgranddaughters, Christy Gaul and Tara Sutej; a sister, Betty Jane (Ken) Harris of New Jersey; three brothers-in-law, Luther (Claudette) Lovelace Jr. of Pittsburgh, Elbert (Jackie) Lovelace of Bristol, and Seymour Ware of Pittsburgh; and a sister-in-law, Emma Roebuck of Chicago. - Friends will be welcomed by her family from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the CURRAN FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICES, 300 Market St., Leechburg. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, New Kensington, with the Revs. Edward Carter and Asa Roberts co-officiating. Interment will follow in Greenwood Memorial Park, Lower Burrell.

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