Rico Diaz
Loretta Kay Mangum was one of the sweetest people I've ever had the privilege of knowing. I had the honor of working alongside her at Mountain View Funeral Home, and over the years we shared many conversations, laughs, and long days together.
One thing Loretta never stopped talking about was her family. You could see how much she loved Bryan, her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Whenever she spoke about them, her face would light up. They were her pride and joy, and it was easy to see that her family was the center of her world.
Loretta also loved the Lord with all her heart. Her faith wasn't something she talked about only on Sundays—it was something she lived every day. She encouraged people, lifted them up when they were struggling, and made everyone feel welcome and valued. She had a gift for making people feel seen and loved.
Working in a funeral home, you meet many people, but Loretta was someone special. She brought kindness, compassion, and warmth into a place where people often needed it most. She cared deeply for others.
I am grateful for the years I got to work with her and call her my friend. While it is hard to imagine this world without her, I find comfort knowing that she is exactly where she always hoped to be, in the presence of Jesus. I can just picture Loretta in Heaven, smiling, reunited with loved ones, and dancing with joy.
She will be deeply missed, but the love, faith, and kindness she shared with so many of us will never be forgotten.
