Obituary for Kelly Dawn (Oliver) Dial
June 9, 1976 – August 14, 2025
To know Kelly, was to love her. Beautiful, selfless to a fault, intentional, kind, generous, warm, compassionate, hardworking, tough, a woman of conviction. She demonstrated what it meant to love hard and to walk intimately with Jesus, both out loud and behind closed doors. She was more than just a wife, a mother, a daughter, a friend, a teacher, and many other hats that Kelly wore. She was the light that illuminated her family, her classroom, any and every room she walked into. She was the heartbeat of so many.

Kelly Dawn (Oliver) Dial was born on June 9, 1976, in Lufkin, Texas, to Lawrence and Debbie (Edge) Oliver, and passed away tragically on August 14, 2025, at her home in Groveton, Texas.

Kelly had a fiery and lifelong passion for agriculture— one that she would carry with her throughout her entire life. She was active in her youth with both 4H and FFA, achieving one of her proudest accomplishments when she received her American FFA Degree in 1995. She graduated from Big Sandy High School in 1994 and went on to attend and graduate from Sam Houston State University in 1999.

Kelly had teaching instilled in her, and would use that gift to impact so many young students' lives. She began her teaching career at Big Sandy ISD before marrying her husband and the love of her life, Vance Dial. She later taught at Groveton ISD and eventually fulfilled her dream of becoming an agriculture teacher at Little Centerville ISD. She cherished her Bulldog family and had a passion for guiding and motivating her students to become the absolute best versions of themselves. Kelly was much more than just a teacher to her students. She was a mentor, a teacher of life lessons, a support system, constant encouragement, and even, like a second mom.

Kelly excelled at everything in her life, but her greatest honor, was her role as Weston and Brance's mom. Whether it was hauling them to every rodeo or sliding alongside them on the dance floor, Kelly never failed to show up and show out for her two boys. They were her heartbeat, her best friends, and if you spent any amount of time around them, you know she was theirs.

Kelly's life was marked by her love for people, teaching, and community. She served as a past president of the Polk County Youth Rodeo Association, was a Texas State 4H Officer, and gave selflessly in numerous organizations. She was especially proud to receive a special appreciation award recognizing her service with Eastern Star and the Masons of OES #1035. To her family and friends, she will also be remembered for her love to dance—winning the polka contest at Gilley's Night at 58th Junction.

Words will simply never suffice at just how special of person Kelly was, or what she meant to all who knew and loved her. A precious daughter, to her parents. A loving wife, to her husband. A devoted mother, to her two sons. A one-in-a-million to friends and family. If there was ever a NFR for humans, Kelly would easily take the Gold as the All-Around Champion. Kelly was the one God broke the mold with.

Her absence leaves a void that cannot be filled, but her legacy of love and devotion will live on through the endless amount of lives she touched. She protected and looked after her boys, her family and friends, her students, and her loved ones for her whole life. And now, she will do so as our guardian angel. Kelly, we will miss you every single second for the rest of our lives.
She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, J.O. and Charlotte Edge; paternal grandparents, Laura and Benson Oliver; and father-in-law, Winston Adwin Dial.
She is survived by her loving husband, Vance Dial of Groveton, Texas; her beloved sons, Weston Dial and Brance Dial of Groveton, Texas; parents, Lawrence and Debbie Oliver of Groveton, Texas; uncles: Gerry Edge and wife Laura of Kingwood, Texas, Royce Oliver and wife Diane of Temple, Texas, Bruce Oliver and wife Patti of Corpus Christi, Texas, and Kenneth Oliver and wife Lanette of Temple, Texas; aunts: Sherry Reed of Temple, Texas, Billie Ruth Clinard and husband Gilbert of Temple, Texas, and Jill McLeearen and husband, Jay of Temple, Texas; mother-in-law, Ina Grace Dial of Groveton, Texas; brothers-in-law: Lindel Dial and wife Pam of Groveton, Texas, and Brint Dial and Therasa Gilbert of Groveton, Texas; along with numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends.
Visitation & Services
The family will receive visitors on Thursday, August 21, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Little Centerville High School Gymnasium. Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 22, 2025, at 2:00 PM at Little Centerville High School, with Pastors Leslie Wilkinson, Tony Goins, and Lonnie Vallance officiating. Interment will follow in Glenwood Cemetery in Groveton, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Centerville Buyers Group, c/o Mark Brown or Jennifer Westbrook, 10327 N State Highway 94, Groveton, Texas 75845.
Pallbearers
Vance Dial, Weston Dial, Brance Dial, Lawrence Oliver, Hayden Dial, Hunter Arnold, Seth Handley, Travis Barnes, W.R. Baker, Mark Brown, Matt Hawkins, Cody Baker, Lyle Smith, Sammy Lattner, Jason Due, Carson Ray, Justin Rowe, and Chad Rowe.
Her Girls
Rachel Galloway, Suzy Riley, Sherry Baker, Kerry Brown, Jessica Lattner, Kasey Wood, Angela Rodell, Mandy Mizell, Kasey Benton, Julie Young, Shelly Young, Gracie Brown, Meaghan Parker, Jennifer Westbrook, Savannah Westbrook, Jessica Pouland, Kendra Brister, Reagan Williamson, Kayla Briers, and Jana Lowe.