Thelma Lenora Lane (Goodwin), 97 of Springfield, passed away on November 16, 2019 after a fulfilling life as the beloved matriarch to her family and adored friend to many.

Thelma was born July 30, 1922 to Lester and Bessie Goodwin of Fair Grove, MO. She graduated valedictorian of Fair Grove High School and later attended Draughn's Business College. However, her education was not always conventional. In her early 20s, Thelma showed her adventurous spirit when she took flying lessons for several months, a fact that always delights her great grandchildren to hear.

In 1942, Thelma moved to Cabool Missouri where she was employed at Producers Creamery as a Secretary. In 1963, she began working at Sears as the Executive Secretary where she worked for nearly forty years. In her position, she was known for her joke telling, acting skills in the numerous company skits, and hardworking nature that made her an invaluable asset to the company. After retirement, she devoted her time to Schweitzer United Methodist Church where she worked in any capacity needed.

In her day, Thelma was quite the catch and heartbreaker, denying multiple marriage proposals from eager bachelors before marrying her life companion, Van Field Lane, in 1946. Van and Thelma had three beautiful daughters before his untimely death in 1972. From that point forward, Thelma became the sole caretaker and provider for her daughters, Patti, Cindy, and Becky.

Thelma was raised in the Fair Grove United Methodist Church. She became an active member at Schweitzer UMC in 1960, which became her second home and place of worship for the rest of her life. Thelma's faith sustained her through many difficult times in her life, especially her mischief making teenager, Becky, who is responsible for most of her white hairs.

Anyone who knew Thelma can attest to how beloved she was by her community. She developed dear friendships through her time in the Fair Grove school system, Schweitzer, Sears, Sweet Adelines, and the Montclair. Her lifelong friends were known was "the bunch" and played cards every Friday night for 50 years. After Van's death, she also found fulfillment in traveling the world with dear friends, especially Doris Lambeth and Ollabelle Perryman. It was often joked (because it's true) that Granny was more social than anyone in the family well into her 80s.

Thelma was a lover of sports all her life. It started with her high school basketball career. In her adult life, she was an avid watcher of the St. Louis Cardinals and college basketball, especially the Missouri State Lady Bears and Kansas Jayhawks. In fact, it was her son-in-law, Steve, who inspired her love for the Jayhawks basketball team, much to the dismay of her diehard Mizzou loving grandchildren Scott, Brent & Kim.

Most important to Thelma, known as Granny, was her family. She cherished the moments she spent with her daughters, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. As the matriarch figure, she taught her family the importance of showing love and support in good times and bad. Representative of the reciprocal love her family felt for her, upon being admitted into the hospital, medical staff had to deal with Thelma's crowded hospital room day and night as her family members surrounded her in her final days. There is no doubt in her family's minds that she felt every hand squeeze, hair stroke, and kind word spoken as she passed to a better place, and that provides them peace in this difficult time.

Thelma is preceded in death by her husband Van; siblings Dorothy & Lilian; her parents; and great-granddaughter Chloe Butcher. She is survived by her children Patti Lane, Cindy Hughes & husband Steve, and Becky Parks, as well as her 7 grandchildren & 13 great-grandchildren.

Family and friends will gather for a Visitation on Friday, November 22nd from 6:30-8:30PM and Celebration of Life on November 23rd at 1PM at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home. A private burial service will precede the Saturday Celebration.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000 Dept 142, Memphis, TN 38101-9908 or https://www.stjude.org/