Earlene Dorothy Herd, 84, went home to meet her Savior and reunite with her husband, Alva Herd, Sunday evening June 20, 2010. She was born in 1926 in Tecumseh in Ozark County, Mo., to Tollie and Nora (Evans) Langston. Earlene graduated from Gainesville High School in 1942. While attending Bolivar College she taught at Banner School in the Tecumseh area. She married Alva Melvin Herd, December 20, 1946. She, along with Alva, was a charter member of the First General Baptist Church in Springfield, where she worshiped and actively served until her death. Earlene worked in the Springfield school system as the Cafeteria Chief at Cowden School before joining the Zenith Television manufacturing organization, retiring in 1988 from her Quality Inspection position. In 1991, Earlene and Alva built a new home in rural Rogersville which they enjoyed during their retirement years. In addition to her career, Earlene was a devoted wife and home maker. She enjoyed caring for her family, cooking, gardening and sewing along with raising their two children, Sharon Ann and Gregory Alva. In retirement, she continued to enjoy a life of service visiting family and friends in nursing facilities, hospitals and those confined to their homes, assisting where possible. Earlene is survived by one daughter and husband Sharon and Leon Nutt; one son and wife Greg and Carla Herd; three grandsons, Jerry Nutt, Jordan Herd and Travis Boles; one granddaughter, Cindy Smith; two great-granddaughters, Amber Nutt and Myleigh Herd; one sister and husband, Betty and Harold Smith. She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 1/2 years, Alva Herd; her parents, Tollie and Nora Langston; two sisters and their husbands, Vernie and Gene Pleasant, Vloice and Joe Blackburn; and one grandson, Michael Nutt. Visitation and funeral services will be held in Gorman-Scharpf, 1947 E. Seminole, Springfield, Mo. Visitation will be held Wednesday evening June 23 from 6 to 8 and funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon June 24 at 1 p.m. Burial will be in White Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made in Earlene's name to the First General Baptist Church, 1400 W. Walnut, Springfield, MO 65806. After years of serving others, Earlene can now enjoy her well deserved, heavenly reward, joined by friends and family that have gone before.