Beatrice “Bea” Felts, 78, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Oct 15, 2015, surrounded by family.
Visitation will be Sunday, Oct. 18, 1-3 p.m. at Greenlawn Funeral Home North in Springfield; Funeral services are Monday, Oct. 19, 1 p.m. at Grant Avenue Free Will Baptist Church; graveside service to follow at Greenlawn North Cemetery.
She was born July 16, 1937 to Jacob and Mittie Stogsdill in Couch, Missouri. In the same house where she was born, Bea married Billy G. Felts on Christmas Day, 1955. She was God’s gift to Bill. A faithful wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and great grandmother, Bea devoted her life first to God, then to nurturing her family. She loved to extend her hospitality to others and was known for opening her heart, home and especially her table to all. She loved to bake, singing as she worked the dough with her fingers. Over the years she shared thousands of pies, pouring a little love into each.
Bea spent her life serving at her church and had a passion for missions. She would spend countless hours in prayer asking for God’s blessings, not just for her family and friends, but for those whom she did not know. She used her heart and voice, singing in the choir, leading Vacation Bible School, Children’s Sunday School ministries and Women’s Auxiliary groups.
Besides her life as a homemaker, Bea was Bill’s “right hand” supporting in all that he did and helping him build an auto sales business, working as his partner.
She gave all that she could give to all that she did, and gracefully fought cancer for five years, her faith never wavering even to the end of her journey. She lived her life by 1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your cares upon Him, because He cares for you.”
She was preceded in death by her parents. Survivors left to celebrate her life include Bill her devoted husband of nearly 60 years; her children Dan (Joanna) Felts of Fresno, California; Jan (Jeffrey) Wilken of Ottawa, Kansas; Angie (Tim) Enlow of Springfield, and Carol (Neil) Ullery of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; 8 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are her sisters Julie Simpson, Thayer, Mo. and Davie (Milton) Scott of Springfield as well as numerous nieces and nephews and a host of friends.
Those wishing to honor Bea with a donation may contribute to Grant Avenue Free Will Baptist Church or the American Cancer Society.