Mary Lee Lantz, age 84, of Springfield, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, March 31, 2009 after a long fight with diabetes and heart disease. She was born, February 18, 1925 in Billings, Missouri, the daughter of Ed and Fannie Garbee. Mary Lee had a beautiful soprano voice, and gave music recitals at a very young age. She taught band, orchestra and vocal music in the Springfield schools for 21 years. She loved children, and had a special way with them. She gave private music lessons to many of them through the years, not charging those unable to pay. Mary Lee graduated from SMS, now MSU with high honors and got her Master's degree from Drury University. She also studied music for two years at UCLA, specializing in voice. She was valedictorian of her high school class at Billings. She was a longtime member of First Baptist Church in Springfield. One of her proudest accomplishments was organizing and directing the graded choir program at First Baptist Church with over 200 children and adults participating. She also served as assistant music director at First Baptist Church for 10 1/2 years. In 1989, the members of First Baptist organized a ukulele band, and Mary Lee directed it for 13 years until her health failed in 2003. The band performed, and is still performing, at nursing homes, churches, and senior centers all over southwest Missouri. Mary Lee met her husband, Dean Lantz at First Baptist Church during WWII when she was attending SMS and he was an Air Corps Cadet. They were married on Christmas day, 1945 after he got out of the Air Corps. She was preceded in death by her parents; son David; and a cousin, Leslie Hill who was raised as her brother. She is survived by her husband, Dean Lantz; daughter-in-law, Irene Lantz; and grandchildren Michelle and Matthew Lantz. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 PM, Saturday, April 4, 2009 in Gorman- Scharpf Brentwood Chapel with the Reverend Michael Overton officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery, Billings, Missouri. Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, Friday in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Children's Music Ministry at First Baptist Church.
