Janice Lessley Nunnelee

Janice Lessley (Hartle) Nunnelee passed away Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at her home in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. She was born Monday, February 23, 1920 at Gravel Hill, MO, the daughter of A.E. (Earl) and Hema O. Lessley Hartle. Janice and Joe Robert Nunnelee were married on August 30, 1942 in Jackson, Missouri. To this union two sons were born, Joe Mark Nunnelee and Gregory Hartle Nunnelee both of whom have preceded her in death. She graduated from Jackson High School in 1938, continuing her formal education at Southeast Missouri State University obtaining her undergraduate degree in 1942. Her experiences as a traveling librarian and love of reading inspired her to seek further education, receiving her Master's Degree in Library Science from the University of Illinois in 1958. The joy of learning continued throughout her lifetime and she obtained additional education at the University of North Carolina and the University of Missouri. She taught English for one year at Lutesville High School. In the schools of Mississippi County, she was a traveling librarian driving a bookmobile van to various schools. These experiences motivated her to continue her education to become a collegiate librarian at Southeast Missouri State University. She was a reference librarian for over thirty years at Kent Library. During her professional career, she was a member of the Missouri Library Association, the Missouri State Teachers Association, the Southeast Missouri Teachers Association, The American Association of University Women and Delta Kappa Gamma. While her sons were growing up, she was a Cub Scout den mother and a co-sponsor of the Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYF). Her enduring love of her family, her God, and her work in education marked her life while reading, gardening, travel, and enjoyment of the beauty of God’s wonderful world filled the extra moments with joy. She is survived by a great-grand daughter, Marissa Anne Nunnelee; two great-great grandsons, Jayden and Chayse Bozman; a wonderful daughter-in-law and faithful caretaker, Sharon Slater Nunnelee, along with a host of beloved friends who were honored to know her. She was preceded in death by her parents, former husband, both sons and grandsons, Mark Britton Nunnelee and Shelley Slater Nunnelee. The family wishes to thank Crown Hospice and Jim and Judy Leigh for their exemplary care and support provided to Janice during her final days. Visitation will be Saturday, August 27, 2016 from 11:00 a.m. until noon at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Funeral Home. The service will follow at noon at the funeral home with Rev. Jeff Long officiating. Entombment will follow at Cape County Memorial Park Mausoleum. Memorials may be made to Centenary U.M.C., Crown Hospice or Doctors Without Borders, P.O. Box 110, NY, NY 10277-1218.

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Janice Lessley Nunnelee

February 23, 1920 - August 23, 2016