Luanne Wallace

Luanne "Lu" Howe Wallace, born December 14, 1953, in Miami, Oklahoma, passed peacefully at her home in Pryor, Oklahoma, on March 5, 2026, surrounded by many loving friends and family who were there to comfort and care for her.

She was the daughter of Elta Louise Howe (Hartley) and John Lee Howe and was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, John Ben Howe, and his wife Donna.

Lu lived life on her own terms. She was independent, strong-willed, and-by her family's loving admission-stubborn as hell. If something was going to be done, it usually had to be her idea first. At the same time, she had a big heart for people and a natural way of taking care of those around her, always making sure everyone had what they needed when they needed it.

Throughout her life, Lu worked in many roles including small business owner, veterinary technician, and race team manager. During her time managing a race team, she traveled throughout the NASCAR circuit with driver Christi (Passmore) Grindstaff and the pit crew, keeping everyone fed, organized, and cared for-always one step ahead and making sure the team was taken care of.

Lu's love of people and hard work eventually led her to Eastside Cafe in Pryor, Oklahoma, where she first began working alongside her best friend Mary Kirby and Mary's husband Jack Kirby. After several years, Lu and her partner Roy McClellan purchased the café from them and continued its tradition under the name Lu's Eastside Cafe, building not just a business, but a community. She loved her loyal customers, and many of them became family to her.

Lu appreciated the simple joys that made life feel full. She adored animals and had many beloved dogs throughout her life. She loved flowers and, although she hadn't planted a flower garden in quite some time, she still enjoyed seeing them bloom. She enjoyed painting, a skill she learned from her grandmother, Ethel Cooper Howe. She also loved bird watching and was always excited each year for the orioles to arrive. Traveling was another of her joys; she often liked to simply get in the car and go, sometimes with no real destination in mind, enjoying the journey wherever the road happened to take her.

Lu was married to Gary Wallace for 42 years, and together they raised their two daughters before later divorcing. Gary preceded her in death in September 2025.

Family meant everything to Lu. She was lovingly known as "Ma'am Ma'am," a name she chose herself, to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her daughters, Michelle Lynn Wallace Stoots and husband Sammy "Charlie" of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, and Jana Leigh Wallace Goins and Ted Key of Chouteau, Oklahoma. She is also survived by her partner Roy McClellan; her brother Richard Howe and wife Patricia Howe of Jay, Oklahoma; and her former mother-in-law Marjorie Wallace of Strang, Oklahoma.

Her grandchildren include Charlotte Rhaye Stoots; Madison Luanne Thilges and husband Travis; and Bobby Joe Goins and wife Savannah. Her great-grandchildren include Carter, Carmen, Preston, and Nora.

One of the traditions Lu treasured most was Sunday morning breakfast at the café with her family. She would give each of the great-grandchildren money so they could tip every employee, teaching them the importance of generosity and appreciation for the people who work hard to care for others.

She is also survived by her niece and nephew, Lee Howe and wife Charlotte, and Sherry Howe and Rob Studie; great-nieces and nephews Kobe, Kaden, Kyler, Jaliyiah, and Paul; her best friend of more than 30 years, Mary Kirby and her husband Jack; dear friends Kim Friday, Kelly Bermudez, Lindsay Woods, Nichole Faulkner, and Teresa Sistler; former son-in-law Stephen Goins; and the many hardworking and dedicated employees of Lu's Eastside Cafe who meant so much to her: Mariah, Lydia, Billy, Ray, Ken, Andrew, Tommy, Courtney, Kaylee, and Michael.

Lu believed that family was not only who you were born to, but also who you chose. Over the years she built a wide circle of close friends and loved ones whom she proudly considered family. 

She had a quick sense of humor about her daughters and would often introduce them by saying, "This is Michelle, she's the smart one, and this is Jana, she's the nice one." She also affectionately referred to Charlie as "Son One" and Stephen as "Son Two." She also had a fondness for collecting $2 bills-another small reflection of the unique way she moved through life. 

There will be no services held, per Lu's request. 

The family asks that you remember her when you see the first flowers of spring, a brightly colored bird, or when you sit down with a really good cup of coffee. 

Ma'am ma'am will be deeply missed by her family who loved her very much. Tag you're it - no tag backs.