Life story Luella Maxine O'Banion Lott, 77, died unexpectedly but peacefully on Wednesday, April 15, 2015, at her home in Philadelphia, PA. Born on September 10, 1937 in Madison, Indiana, she was the second oldest, and only daughter of Henrietta and Louis O'Banion Jr. She attended elementary and junior high at The Broadway School and graduated from Madison High School. In the fall of 1955 she began college at West Virginia University, with the intention of majoring in education, even though her dream was to become a fashion buyer. After freshman year he met her dream man, the handsome Army veteran Hickmon Lott, Jr. They married on August 4, 1956 and had three children; Kendall Lott, Charmin (Lott) Caulley and Sonya Lott. They raised their children in Gary, Indiana. Over the years, Luella, affectionately known as Sis, sold every brand of cosmetics and jewelry that promised to make women look and feel more beautiful. This included Avon, Mary Kay, Jafra, Vanda, and Sarah Conventry. Sis was an amazing salesperson. She was told by loved ones on many occasions that she could have successfully sold used toothpicks! Later in her life, she became a personal shopper. She never lost her passion for fashion, and always loved to dress up, even if only going to the grocery store. Her greatest joy was giving and receiving love. Her generous expressions of love and compassion have had a profound impact on so many of our lives. In 1996, four years after being widowed, she moved to Philadelphia to be closer to her daughters and grandchildren. In 1997, she was diagnosed with a life threatening cardiovascular disease that resulted in an aortic dissection and aneurysms. Doctors had given her days to life without surgery in December 2000. Sis refused the surgery and leaned into her faith and the support of her family to live an additional 14 years. Many people didn't realize the severity of her illness because her spirit was so alive and with the assistance of her daughter Charmin, her son-in-law and granddaughters with whom she lived, she was able to remain somewhat active. Sis was preceded in death by her parents, husband and son; brothers Norman O'Banion and Louis O'Banion; nephew Bruce O'Banion, Jr.; niece Heather O'Banion; and great niece Tikierra Williams. She leaves many to celebrate her eternal life: daughters Charmin Caulley, and Sonya Lott; brother Bruce O'Banion; granddaughters Savanna Caulley and Montana Caulley; son-in-law Everett Caulley; niece Tiki (O'Banion) Williams; nephews Yarnelle (Yvon) O'Banion, Rian O'Banion and Tiriek O'Banion; great nephews Dwayne (Boone) Jackson and Daunte O'Banion; and great niece Daija O'Banion, cousins, beloved brother-in-law Billy Lott, beloved sister-in-law Reneda Howze, and a host of special friends and family through love, including Lance Lytle, whom she helped raise. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Luella Lott Memorial Fund. Please email Sonya and Charmin at sonyacharmin@gmail.com to obtain more information. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Luella Maxine O'Banion Lott, please visit our floral store.