Graveside service for Colette S. Danilavez will be 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at Fort Sill Post Cemetery with John Webb, Minister, Cache Christian Church officiating.

Colette S. Danilavez passed away on Friday, January 3, 2025, in Lawton, Oklahoma, at the age of 93 from a brief illness.

Colette was born on December 3, 1931, at Saint Vallier S/Rhone, France to Henri and Sarah (Labouret) Belfils. She attended many schools, moving every time her father was promoted as chief of Gendarmerie. She got her Bachelor of Science degree at the University Classique De Jeune Filles at Angoulềme, France. She worked in France with Civilian Personnel. Her desire was to become a dentist, but she traveled instead and became a loving wife and mother and later taught French voluntarily on Fort Sill.

She married Major Robert L. Danilavez in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1963 and traveled with him to numerous Army posts until he retired at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. She was a volunteer on Fort Sill, was a member of Military Widows and was active with Phi Sigma Iota at Cameron University. Colette enjoyed reading, classical music, knitting, cooking French cuisine for her family and friends. She also enjoyed solving murder mysteries and crossword puzzles in the Lawton newspaper. She had a love for animals and always had a dog and cat following her and helped many rescues with her daughter. Colette had a full life and was loved dearly by both those with and without fur and will never be forgotten.

She is survived by her daughter, Geraldine C. (Danilavez) Brady of Lawton, Oklahoma and son, Alain G. Landrum of Reno, Nevada, two grandchildren, Feliz and Sarah Landrum of Reno, Nevada and several great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Danilavez was preceded in death by her parents, Henri and Sarah Belfils, her husband, Robert Danilavez and cousin and close friend professeur Jacques Meladeck.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Lawton Animal Shelter and mention Colette.