Teresa Ellen (Deck) Bumgarner age 59, of Springfield passed away in her home on Sunday April 12th, with her husband beside her, after battling ALS the past several months. Teresa was born in Springfield on March 29, 1956 to Ed and Mary Deck. She resided in Springfield until 1967, then moved with her family when her father accepted employment in Reno, Nevada. The family resided in Reno until May 1974, then returned to Springfield so her father could start his business. While in Reno, Teresa made many friends and acquaintances and fell in love with the Sierra's, Lake Tahoe, Pyramid Lake and the open range that Nevada is known for. She attended Billinghurst Junior High and graduated from Reno High School in May 1974. While attending Reno High, she met and began dating her future husband, Lyle. Upon returning to Springfield, she attended MSU (SMS), where she majored in plant and soil biology/horticulture and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in May 1978. After graduation, she began working at ANPAC, and continued her long distance relationship with Lyle. In May 1980 she moved to Riverside California to be with Lyle. Teresa and Lyle wed on July 11, 1981 at Kings Way United Methodist Church and resided in Riverside until August 1984, then moved to Springfield. From their marriage came a son, Matthew Guy and a daughter, Christina Ellen. They were active as a family, and kept the kids in all kinds of activities. Teresa helped with youth groups and Sunday school at church, opened her home to youth meetings and sport dinners. She camped and traveled with the Girl Scouts and was a leader for several years. She attended sporting events with the kids, traveled with the Glendale swim team while Chris was on the team, and assisted with program sales or fund raising while Matt played basketball and ran cross country at Glendale. Teresa served on Field PTA, assisted in the offices at Pershing and Glendale, and traveled to Washington DC, with the Pershing 8th graders. Teresa loved the outdoors, and plants and flowers were her passion. She designed landscapes and gardens for her family and friends and neighbors, drafted up sketches, and suggested what plant varieties would work best. She was a Master Gardener in the Master Gardeners of Missouri, Greene County, worked for Teal Greenhouse in the spring and fall. As a member of Aldersgate UMC, she served on the board of trustees and chaired the landscape committee for 3 years during which time the church built a new sanctuary and Outdoor Ministry Building. She also designed and led Serve' groups from church on different projects in Nixa involving landscape and plant/tree maintenance. Going to Bull Shoals Lake on the weekends, traveling to Kansas City or St. Louis for activities and concerts, traveling to Riverside to be with family members on vacation or holidays was a big part of her life. Typical weekends at the Deck family cabin on Bull Shoals included an early morning ride on the back of the Sea-Doo with Lyle while the water was like glass, just cruising and enjoying the day, later helping with chores around the cabin, floating off the dock, or going out in Papa's fishing boat and wetting a hook, or sitting by the fireplace in the winter reading and relaxing with family. Week days would be working at home, checking on family members, keeping the wood stove going in the basement, chatting with neighbors and friends and meeting Lyle for lunch and on occasion, getting a quick 3 to 4 holes in at Hickory Hills, followed by dinner and a relaxing evening. Her family was her life, and when the grandsons came along, Oma' went out of her way to help. She always had a smile, a kind word, and provided much love and affection to her family and friends. Teresa is survived by her parents, Ed and Mary Deck; husband Lyle; son Matthew and his wife Jessica, grandsons Jackson, Brayden and Colton; daughter Christina; brother Ed Deck, Jr. and wife Molly, their daughter Keary and her husband Jacob and son Jack, daughter Kathryn, and son Cal; her father-in-law Don Bumgarner (Papa Don) of Riverside, California; brother-in-law Brian Bumgarner, his wife Tammi, and their daughter Lindsay, Anaheim Hills, California; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Visitation will be Wednesday April 15th at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home, 1947 East Seminole, Springfield, from 6 to 8 PM. The celebration of Teresa's life will be held at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 460 W. Aldersgate Drive, in Nixa on Thursday, April 16th at 11 AM, with Pastors Dennis Miller, Phil Brucks, and Sarah Fotopulos officiating. Private Family Interment will be at Eastlawn Cemetery, Springfield. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations may be made to Aldersgate United Methodist Church, and given in Teresa's memory to continue the landscape maintenance that she spent so many hours on designing and maintaining. Online condolences may be made at www.gormanscharpf.com. A special thanks to all the friends and family with the visits, cards and flowers, the pastoral staff and church family at Aldersgate UMC for their visits, prayer support and meals provided. Thanks to Oxford Health care staff that cared for her and allowed Teresa to remain at home during her illness, and last but not least, the nurses and staff with Dr. Detten, and Dr. Otto as they worked to comfort her during these difficult few months.