YOAKUM: Dolores JoAnn Lange, 82, finished her earthly journey at her home Thursday, October 22, 2026, surrounded by her family. A devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, she was born November 17, 1943, in Yoakum to the late Clarence Charles “Dick” Foxell and Fannie Loys (Allen) Foxell.
Dolores grew up on a farm in the Hope community where she learned from an early age the value of hard work, responsibility, and caring for others. She attended Hope School and was a member of Hope Baptist Church. She graduated from Yoakum High School, became a licensed vocational nurse, started her nursing career at Yoakum Huth Memorial Hospital, and then worked at DeTar Hospital in Victoria. She married Robert Lange on September 25, 1965, and they started their married life on a ranch in Refugio, Texas during which time she worked as a nurse in Refugio and Goliad hospitals. They eventually settled in Yoakum where they built their life and raised their family.
Dolores had a servant’s heart, always putting others above herself and always embracing the role of caregiver. Through the years she cared for numerous relatives and worked at multiple hospitals and skilled nursing facilities, later becoming a private in-home nurse. In 2002 she opened her own assisted living home, Oak Heaven, providing attentive loving care and her famous home cooking to numerous residents through the years. After retirement, she didn’t stay idle long. In her mid-seventies she took on a role as the cook for residents at a local assisted living home.
Dolores is remembered by her family as a creative soul who could do anything she dreamed. Her natural gift for cooking grew into an extraordinary talent that brought comfort, joy, and countless treasured memories to those lucky enough to gather around her table. She made everything from scratch and never needed recipes. Her husband Robert always said you could go all over this country and not find a better meal. Dolores was a talented seamstress, designing and making custom drapery, comforters, quilts, clothing, costumes, and uniforms without ever using patterns. When her kids were little, she made all their clothes, and she performed alterations and created costumes and formal dresses for numerous friends and family members. Above everything, there is no doubt that Dolores’ greatest joy came from her kids and grandchildren. She loved cooking them their favorite meals, spending time with them, attending their various events, and being their biggest cheerleader.
Survivors are her husband of 61 years, Robert Lange of Yoakum; daughter, Cindy and husband Glenn Holub of Tomball; son, Kenneth Lange and wife Melba of Yoakum; grandchildren, Cassidy Holub, Cade Holub, and Tyler Holub; sister, Pat and husband Easy Frerich; sister-in-law, Lois Foxell; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She is predeceased by her parents; infant son, Darrell Ray Lange; granddaughter, Nell Nicole Lange; sister, Billie Planche; brothers, Charles Foxell, Ray Foxell, Jackie Foxell, and Harry Foxell.
The family would like to thank her devoted caregivers Vanessa Nation and niece Carol Gaertner and the staff at Advanced Home Health and Hospice of South Texas, especially Janice Stevens and April Rice.
Burial to be held at a later date.
Memorials may be given to Cuero Pet Adoption or Hospice of South Texas.