Lula May Dean , age 81, passed away peacefully on August 2, 2025, at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, surrounded by her husband, children, and grandchildren.

She was born on December 19, 1943, in Stroud, Oklahoma, to Hubert and Georgia Smith, and was raised in Farmersville, California. Lula spent most of her life in California, where she and her beloved husband, Bobby Dean, built a beautiful life together and shared nearly 65 years of marriage. Together, they ran a successful gutter business, and for most of her adult life, Lula also worked as an interior designer, using her keen eye for detail and creativity to transform homes and spaces.

Lula was a strong woman of faith and the heart of her family. She was a beautiful soul, inside and out, known for her deep love for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her presence brought warmth, strength, and grace to all who knew her.

She is survived by her devoted husband, Bobby Dean; her two daughters, Toni Beard (Bob) and Lori Lopes (Richard); her two grandchildren, Garrett (Kelsey) Lopes and Lauren (KC) Pearce; and five great-grandchildren: Logann, McKinley, Everleigh, Kannon, and Coleson. Her family was her greatest joy, and she poured her love into each generation with unwavering devotion.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Hubert and Georgia Smith, and her siblings Mary Ruth Scott, Douglas Smith, and Rudy Smith.

A celebration of Lula's life will be held on Monday, September 8th at 10:00 a.m. at Crossroads Community Church, located at 412 N. B Street, Lompoc. Lunch will follow the service.