Jeanne A. Gamble  -  November 22, 1919 to January 25, 2021

On November 22, 1919, a little "ray of sunshine" was born in Bartlesville, OK, to Frank and Hattie Atkinson.  She joined sister Evelyn who was 18 years old and brother Donald who was 9.  Finding just the right name for her had proven tough. The doctor grew impatient and named her "Georgia Marie" on the birth certificate. Her parents decided that just didn't fit and renamed her "Emilie Jeanne".  Today she goes by just "Jeanne" but that was hard to prove when the time came to do legal paperwork.  Her parents had not recorded her new name with the state!

At age 2, the family left the oil fields and moved to Willow Springs where her father got a job with the MO State Highway Department.  Her parents fostered an orphan named Elmer Sells who was Don's age and he became another big brother to protect her.  Her mother once jokingly told her that they'd had her later in life to comfort them in their old age. Instead, she left home as soon as she graduated from high school in 1937 and, as she said, she never looked back.

She graduated in three years from State Teachers College (now MSU) in 1941 with a degree in elementary education and was hired to begin teaching in September of 1941 at the young age of 20 (she didn't turn 21 until November).  That summer, the adventurous young Jeanne traveled by herself to the West Coast on the train, returning a day or two before starting her first teaching job at Tefft Elementary School. Her next 20 years were at Berry Elementary's 4th grade and her last years were at Pershing Elementary. She loved her kids and they loved her!

In 1958, Barry School burned and that changed her life forever.  The school was rebuilt and Franklin Gamble, a member of the school board and a widower, came to the dedication of the new school with his two sons, Steven age 15 and David age 12.  They met that day and he called her the next day for a dinner date.  And the rest is history.  They married in July 1960 and she went from being a single 40-year old school teacher to wife, mother of two teenaged boys, and daughter-in-law.

In the fall of 1960, they purchased Gamble's Treasure House.  For 11 years Franklin sold china while Jeanne continued teaching.  She retired in 1971 after teaching for 30 years.  She and Franklin worked together at the store until 1984 when they sold the store and retired.  Their love of traveling took them on many trips over the years, both overseas and stateside, and they visited all 50 states.

Franklin was a founding member at National Avenue Christian Church.  Jeanne became actively involved after they married and was a Lifetime Elder. She dearly loved her church family!

She lost her best friend in 1990.  Her indomitable spirit kept her going and she enjoyed some of her last years with her beloved dogs to keep her company and many friends to enjoy activities with.  Among her many activities over the years were Soroptimist, SMMA, Little Theater Guild, Saturday Club, Christian Women United, and she was recognized as an MSU "Grand Bear" having been out of college for 70 years and over age 90!

Her last three years were spent at The Manor at Elfindale where one of her students was a fellow resident. They visited nearly every day!  That's what happens when you live to 101!

"It has been a wonderful trip," she told us.  "Little Jeanne Sunshine", we will miss you and that wonderful smile forever!

She is survived by her step-son Steven Gamble, Nephews Tony (Jan) Atkinson, Dick (Kathy) Sells, Dale (Nancy) Sells, her second Springfield family Chris and Topsi Long, as well as numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews in AL, AZ, CA, NV, NC, and VA.

A special thanks to the nurses and staff at The Manor at Elfindale for their excellent care.

An open visitation will be held from to 2:00 pm-7:00 pm Thursday, January 28, 2021 at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home. Graveside services at Eastlawn Cemetery at 1:00 pm Friday, January 29, 2021.  A Celebration of Life on Zoom will be conducted at 11:30 on Sunday, January 31, 2021. Please contact National Avenue Christian Church via email communications@nationalavenuecc.com or phone 417-869-9176 for the zoom link.

Memorial Contributions can be made to National Avenue Christian Church or an animal shelter of your choice.

Jeanne's memorial slideshow can be viewed here .