Jaunita Turney Lewis, 97, passed away peacefully on January 4, 2010. She was born Lillith Jaunita Turney on September 10, 1912, in Shelbina, Missouri to Albert Thornton and Ida Estelle Turney. She was preceded in death by her parents; her older brother, Frank Vestry Turney; and her beloved husband of 49 years, E. Glenn Lewis. Jaunita spent her childhood in Shelbina, then moved to Columbia, Mo., where she graduated from Hickman High School. She attended Columbia Business College and began work as a bookkeeper for the Missouri Store (book store) of the University of Missouri. During high school she met Glenn Lewis, whom she married on Christmas Day, December 25, 1938 in Pittsburgh, Pa. In typical fashion, she boarded a train to travel alone from Mo. to Pa. to meet her husband-to-be. They lived several years in Syracuse, N.Y. and Texas and then Sedalia, Mo. for 43 years before moving to Springfield 22 years ago. Jaunita was an adored wife, a loving mother and grandmother, and a trusted bookkeeper for numerous businesses including the Sedalia Democrat newspaper, from which she retired after 14 years. Although Jaunita and Glenn often "played it by ear" when traveling, favorite trips always ended in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. Jaunita was a member and officer of the Sedalia PTA, the American Legion Auxiliary Post 16, and the Wesley United Methodist Church in Sedalia. She was the first woman member of the Sedalia Park Board, and spearheaded creating a park and tennis courts in an underserved area. Jaunita is survived by her daughters, Kathy Jones (Jim) of Springfield and Glenda Finnie (Bill) of St. Louis. She has three grandsons, Dr. John Wm. Finnie (Lynn) of St. Louis; Stephen Lewis Finnie (Sarita) of Wayzata Minn.; and Jon Lewis Jones of Springfield. In addition, she has two step-grandchildren, Jeff Jones (Vicky) of Ozark and Jimmy Jones (Cheryl) of Springfield. Her great grandchildren number five, with another due in March: Sean, Laura, Evan, Glen and Johnny Finnie. She has two step-great-grandsons, Jackson and Lincoln Jones of Ozark. Her love, constant sweet disposition and occasional surprise "zingers" will be greatly missed by all who knew her. The family extends thanks to the caregivers at Creekside, Jaunita's home for 18 years, and at Christian Health Care East. Special thanks go to Regional Hospice. Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 7, in Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home, 1947 E. Seminole, Springfield, MO from 12 p.m. to 1 pm. Services will be at 1 pm, with burial following in Springfield National Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to the charity of one's choice.