Mildred ‘Olene’ Lancaster was born in Brownwood, Texas on March 10, 1941, and was received into Heaven by her Savior in the early morning hours of Thursday, April 16, 2026. She was the beloved daughter of the late Olan L. Dodds and Mildred (Berry) Dodds as well as the elder sister of Larry Franklin Dodds of Hilltop Lakes, TX.
Olene, lovingly referred to and remembered by many as “Memo”, held her hometown of Brownwood, Texas with great affection and spent her entire life as a well-known, vibrant and cherished member of the community. Saved into the faith at a young age, Olene was a lifelong member of Early First Baptist Church where her parents faithfully served as a deacon and Sunday school teachers. As a young girl, Olene enjoyed many of the activities typical to girlhood: playing with dolls, dressing up and learning the early skills of homemaking alongside her mother. While playing outdoors she also enjoyed taking rides on her bright blue bike. It was on one of those bike rides that Olene met the love of her life and future husband of 68 years, Jerry Don Lancaster, as he and a friend teasingly hurled mulberries at her as she rode past.
Jerry Don and Olene Lancaster began their remarkable love story early in life during their teenage years at Early High School and were married on March 8, 1958. Jerry Don and Olene parented two children: Terri Cathleen Berlingeri and Jeffery ‘Scott’ Lancaster. As a couple they enjoyed taking their children camping, boating on Lake Brownwood and faithfully attending the sporting events in which their family participated. Olene loved being in the bleachers to support her children in their athletic endeavors, often cheering them on while recording barrel racing and calf roping times from the stands of the rodeo circuit. She was a devout fan of the where Scott quarterbacked the team to a state championship in 1978. When not traveling for sports and rodeos, Jerry Don and Olene often spoke of the years they spent dancing weekly on Saturday nights at the Starlight Club. The pair recalled two-stepping the night away with dear friends among some of their most favorite times in life. Throughout their almost seven decades, JD and Olene never missed an opportunity to share a dance and while dancing the couple could be counted on to rarely look away from each other’s gaze as they traversed the floor.
Olene had immense interest and talents in many crafts and her creativity and exceptional eye for beauty was evident in every aspect of her life. She was a brilliant seamstress, painter, gardener, cook, and artist. As a talented seamstress Olene hand-crafted the patterns and finished pieces of Terri’s Rodeo garb as well as many of the clothing she and her family wore. She began each completed piece by designing, drawing and cutting the patterns from brown paper bags herself. Olene was a remarkable cook and will be remembered by so many for the delicious meals she provided them from the warm kitchen, all were invited and welcomed into. Olene was known and recognized for her love and talent in making her home and her yard beautiful, being recognized by the city of Brownwood with the ‘Yard of the Month’ award on one occasion. She lent her talents, care and eye for beauty to a few jobs throughout life at Merle Norman, The Glamour Shop and KinderCare, but her ultimate pride and passion in life was in her role of serving her family and friends in the keeping of her home. Nothing brought her greater joy in life than serving others as Olene had immense love for people. She found her happiness in loving others well through her gentle and consistent acts of service. Olene loved all of creation and held on to a lifelong love for three special pets: the family’s rodeo horse a bay gelding named Ginger, her poodle Chauncie, and her beloved weenie dog, Sadie.
Olene was a devoted and doting wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, daughter, niece, cousin and friend. She was preceded in death by her parents, Olan and Mildred Dodds. She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Jerry Don Lancaster of Brownwood; two children, Terri Cathleen Berlingeri of Euless, TX and Jeffrey ‘Scott’ Lancaster, married to Nicole of Lake Tapps, WA; and by her brother, Larry Franklin Dodds married to Vi of Hilltop Lakes, TX. Olene and Jerry Don have six grandchildren: Jordan L Berlingeri (Daniela), Kelsi Lauren Berry (Derrick), Taylor Morgan Berlingeri (Laura Lea), Jessica Lauren Lancaster, Brooke Nicole Lancaster, and Jade Ashley Lancaster. They have seven great-grandchildren: Jericho, Ema Luna, Emory and Elleniah Berlingeri, Ty Norman, and Wyatt and Harvey Berry. She is blessed with many cousins and nieces who she loved dearly as well.
The family wishes to express their gratitude to Blaylock Funeral Home, Early First Baptist Church, Songbird Lodge and Solaris Hospice for their care during this difficult time.
A visitation will be held Wednesday, April 22, 2026, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm at the Early First Baptist Church. A celebration of life will follow visitation starting at 2:00 pm at the Early First Baptist Church.
In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Early Baptist Church, 103 Garmon Dr, Early, Texas, 76802.
