Faith Lucas

Faith Lucas, age 94, of Shelbina, passed away Thursday, April 20, 2023, at Salt River Community Care in Shelbina.

Faith was born on January 27, 1929, in Scholten, the daughter of Lloyd and Jessie (Thomas) Wiley. She was united in marriage to Donald Francis Lucas on June 4, 1950, at Crane. He preceded her in death on March 22, 1967.

Faith grew up in Barry County, near Crane, which is southwest of Springfield. She was valedictorian of her high school class and went her first year of college at Drury in Springfield and then transferred to MU where she majored in home economics education. Don and Faith were married right after Faith graduated from MU and Don was going to veterinary school. They were in Minnesota when Don was in the service and then moved to Shelbina to join Lee and Patty Rice’s veterinary practice. Faith showed her strength raising her two daughters on her own when she was widowed. She went back to teaching and taught Home Economics at Monroe City High School for several years. She kept in touch with many of her students even going to one class’s 50th reunion.

Faith was a fierce competitor if you played her in cards or golf. She was an avid sports fan and was trying to live long enough to see MU win the NCAA Final Four Tournament. However, she did win the Shelbina NCAA pool this year. Faith played in bridge tournaments and even won a regional bridge tournament in St. Louis with her partner, Phyllis Flemming. She, Phyllis, Patty Rice, and others played many local golf tournaments and went on many golf trips. Faith had a wonderful group of friends who had so much fun together while doing so much for Shelbina. They helped get the first pool built, the golf clubhouse built, put up Christmas decorations downtown, and made improvements around town.

Some of the ways Faith was involved in the community was as a member and officer of the 49ers, P.E.O., Shelbina Arts Council, the golf board, and the OATS board. She was in one of the Shelbina Arts Council’s first musicals, Annie Get Your Gun. Faith was also on the State Arts Council and State OATS board. She was always at her daughters’ activities and a South Shelby fan, especially for the Scholar Bowl teams her daughter coached.

All her family and friends’ birthdays were always remembered with a birthday card. Faith was the family historian. With her brother-in-law, Bill House, she put together a book of the Wiley family history. Faith spent almost two years making for each of her daughters a wonderful scrapbook of her family ancestors, herself and Don, her daughters, and granddaughters.

Faith is survived by her daughters, Ann Neubauer of Shelbina and Linda Furey (Kevin) of Centerport, New York; her granddaughters, Joanne Neubauer of Columbia, and Margaret Furey of Washington, D.C.; her two step-grandsons, Justin Neubauer (Hillary) and Jaie Neubauer (Christine) and her step great-grandchildren, Eleanor, Luca, Ryan, and Rhys all of California. Faith is also survived by several nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.

Faith was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Lucas; her parents, Lloyd and Jessie Wiley; her brothers, Hugh, Jean, and Lynn Wiley; and sisters, Neva Johnson, Elaine House, and Mary Lou Holmes.

Her life’s message is to live life to the fullest, be strong, be curious about everything, love your family, friends, community and country, love and follow God, help others and your community, do your best and laugh often.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, at the Greening-Eagan-Hayes Funeral Home in Shelbina. A visitation was held on Monday, April 24, 2023, at the funeral home in Shelbina. Burial and graveside service were at Crane Community Cemetery on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. Memorials can be made to the Shelbina Library, Salt River Community Care Activities, Shelbina Arts Council, or Donor’s Choice