Lynn Oury and preschooler Olivia Smith in 2008 (Photo provided by Jen Miller)
“That pic of Olivia and Lynn. That’s what a lasting legacy looks like. Her time spent with so many young children through her teaching life. So sweet. So pure.”
– Jennifer Miller, Olivia’s mother.
Loveland, Ohio – The 2025 Loveland Valentine Lady started her journey in Genoa, a small rural town in northwest Ohio. Lynn Oury said that it is very much like Loveland. However, Lynn emphatically adds, “I am home! Loveland truly has that ‘rural-ness’ that very much reminds me of my hometown. And it keeps getting better.”
She met her husband Neal through college friends who grew up in Loveland and they were married in 1983. Lynn got her undergraduate degree from Morehead State University and her masters degree at Xavier University.
Lynn has a son Nick, who is 40, and a daughter Catherine, is who is 37. Lynn and Neal live in a house that Neal built in the Clermont side of the city.
Lynn taught school for 36 years; 22 years in Loveland. While in the Loveland Schools, she was a preschool intervention specialist at the Loveland Early Childhood Center (LECC) and retired in June 2022. This year Lynn started to substitute teach at LECC; getting her “teaching fix” and visiting with her teacher and staff friends.”
Lynn told Loveland Magazine that she has many fond teaching memories. “From the children to families and coworkers. Perhaps to see the progress a child made supported by myself and a dedicated, hard-working team including teaching assistants, speech pathologists, occupational and physical therapists, school psychologists and counselors and parents … it really does take a village.”
Oliver who is eight-years-old and former student, now a first-grader told Loveland Magazine, “Miss Lynn is a great teacher who is nice.”
Lynn was asked what were her fondest early impressions of Loveland, and she replied, “I am home. Loveland truly has that rural-ness that very much reminds me of my hometown. And it keeps getting better.”
Her “now” fondest thing about Loveland is the vibrancy in Downtown with its numerous restaurants and shops; to the Bike Trail and Little Miami River. She also mentioned the parks with great playgrounds and picnic areas to for families and, “Our beloved Loveland Farmer’s Market and Loveland Paddle Sports.” she added that she enjoys the events created by The Little Miami Chamber Alliance and the City of Loveland. “Too many to name; Loveland really does have it all.”
Lynn was on the Loveland Beautification Committee for over 15 years, with “great people”. She volunteers to help with events created by The Little Miami Chamber Alliance.
“I am currently on the Core Team of The Loveland Learning Garden; watering, weeding, and harvesting produce.” Lynn said that in 2024 they took over 1,000 pounds of produce to The Loveland LIFE Food Pantry. They also lead nature related education classes for students at the Loveland Primary and Elementary schools.
“I can’t think of a better person for this year’s Valentine Lady,” said Loveland first-grade teacher, Jennifer Miller. “I had the privilege of working with Lynn for many years at the Loveland Early Childhood Center. She was also my daughter’s preschool teacher and the preschool teacher of many of my Kindergarten and First Grade Students. When I think about Lynn I automatically think of her huge heart and smile. I can’t wait for her to visit my classroom leading up to Valentine’s Day in February.”
Miller currently has a boy in her first-grade class named Oliver who was in Lynn Oury’s pre-school class during her last year of teaching, he told Miller last week, “Miss Lynn is a great teacher who is nice.”
Lynn is also a member of the Loveland Women’s Club. “Through these experiences, I have met amazing, caring, and fun people.”
“I was very surprised when I found out I was this year’s Loveland Valentine Lady. Surprised, honored, and humbled. I found out at our December Loveland Women’s Club Holiday Luncheon,” Lynn said.
Lynn was asked what were the things are she was really looking forward to as 2025 unfolds as a Valentine Lady. “I love reading to children and sharing my most favorite books. I also look forward to promoting all the wonderfulness of Loveland.”
Among her duties as Valentine Lady are being an ambassador for the Chamber’s Valentine Program, visits to area businesses, nursing homes, and schools. Lynn will return to the Loveland schools to visit classrooms and hand-stamp the student’s personalize cards with Loveland’s unique Valentine cachet, which will be modeled after this year’s winning card design.
Lynn and Neal are campers; hitting the campsites with the teardrop camper he built, as well as his restored 1963 Luxor camper. She added, “I enjoy watercolor painting, playing with our two grandchildren, and yoga. I also enjoy playing golf.”
The Valentine Program began in 1972 and now includes a variety of Valentine community activities, including a nationally-known cachet stamping and postmark program.
Lynn will be formally introduced to the community as well as an unveiling of a new Valentine card design winner at a public event in January. Lynn will be the guest of honor at the annual Valentine Breakfast in February.
