Lola Jean Mikeska, age 93, of the Red Ranger community in Bell County, Texas, passed away surrounded by the love of her family on May 12, 2026.

Lola was born on April 30, 1933, in Batesville, Arkansas, to Dalton Stanford Kelley and Faunie Kelley. She attended high school and later made her home in East Bell County, where she spent more than 70 years on the family farm. She was married to Anton J. Mikeska, and after his passing in 1971, Lola never remarried, choosing instead to devote her life to her children, grandchildren, ranching, and the land she loved.

Lola retired from Scott & White Hospital. She was a Christian woman who lived her faith quietly and steadily. Although she did not make a habit of attending church, she found peace in the outdoors, in the beauty of the land, and in the simple blessings of farm life. She enjoyed gardening and was always happy to find a newborn baby calf or to thank the Lord for a good rain.

She was rock-solid and steady her entire life — a woman of strength, love, and devotion. She was deeply loved by her whole family and will be remembered for her faithful heart, her hardworking spirit, and the life she built with and for those she loved.

Lola was preceded in death by her parents, Dalton and Faunie Kelley; her husband, Anton J. Mikeska; her brothers, Shelby Kelley and Finis Kelley; her sisters, June, Lois, Ruby, and Ann; her daughter, Cathy Hammil; and her grandson, Michael Mikeska.

She is survived by her brother, Ernest Kelley; her sons, Mike Mikeska, Patrick Mikeska, and Johnnie Mikeska; her grandchildren, Mike Mikeska Jr., Kristy Morgan, Annie Mikeska, Abbie Mikeska, Candace Greer, Charity Fuller, Shannon Nemjo, Cathleen Bates, Kenneth Hammil, Lloyd Hammil, and Anton Mikeska; 26 great-grandchildren; and 11 great-great-grandchildren.

Lola’s family takes comfort in the words of Psalm 34:18: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 10AM at Harper-Talasek Funeral Home in Temple, Texas. The funeral service will follow, beginning at 11AM, also at Harper-Talasek Funeral Home.