Lemoin Lucas

(From Greenfield Funeral Chapel)

Lemoin Farmer was born on October 18, 1925 on the family farm near Lockwood, MO. She grew up to be a strong, competitive, fun loving woman who lived a good life to the age of nearly 97. She passed away on October 7, 2022 in Springfield, MO.

Lemoin was born to Venton Noel and Ethel Millie (Frye) Farmer. Her siblings were June, Dorothy, Truman, and Helen. Mom enjoyed reminiscing about the joys of living the rural life; the vegetable gardens, her father taking the kids to Dead Elm and Boggy Springs Schools, the snowy days on the back of his horse, Easter picnics on the banks of a nearby creek, and custard and pineapple pies.

Her family moved to Greenfield in the 1940’s and she graduated from Greenfield High School in 1943. Lemoin attended the yearly reunions except this last one. Mom’s first job was at the Dime Store on the square and then she was hired to sell dresses to young women at Rubensteins. 

Also, during this time of WWII, she had a first date with William Jerry Lucas who graduated two years before her and was currently serving in the Marine Corps in the Pacific. She recounted that they didn’t write letters during the war but dated again when he came home at the end of the war. They were married at the Bolivar Courthouse on February 3, 1946, and was driven there by Howard and Mary Rader who had a car.

Jerry and Lemoin settled into post war life in an apartment near the square in Greenfield. Jerry was climbing poles for Empire Electric, playing baseball in Springfield, and fishing and hunting often. Mom was the young bride keeping her job and learning to cook since her mom and Dorothy had always done the cooking. Dad loved to tell how he taught her to cook a beef roast.

In 1948 they bought a little white house with a fireplace on State Street next door to Marge and John Walker. Their first child, Jerilyn, was born at Dr. Cowan’s hospital August 1, 1948. Also, that year mom’s sister June Steeley passed away. On October 24, 1951 the Lucas family expanded with the birth of a son, James Noel Lucas.

The family of four was ready for some adventures. Their first move was to Wichita, KS in 1952 lured by jobs in the aircraft industry and Dairy Queen stores. The next stop was Kansas City for a few years followed by a move to Ponca City, OK.

Ponca City was home from 1957 until 1967. Dad was travelling for American Electric selling electrical supplies to municipalities and the construction industry. Mom was perfecting her cooking, playing bridge, learning to drive a car and keeping house. The family was grilling, playing golf and badminton, camping, taking vacations to Colorado, Yellow Stone, and anywhere there were mountains, and always back to Greenfield and Springfield.

While Jerilyn was in College, mom and dad decided to move back to Missouri. They spent five years in Springfield with James graduating from high school and entering S.M.S. In 1972, they moved to Jerico Springs and then to Stockton. Mom ran the pro shop at the Stockton Golf Course for a couple of years, and dad worked for the Corps of Engineers. After he retired they spent winters in Pharr, TX and traveled to many parts of the country. They celebrated their 50th anniversary in Stockton.

In 1997, Jerry and Lemoin moved to the Abbey Apartments in Springfield and made more friends. Jerry passed away in 2008, the day before their 62nd anniversary. Mom was diagnosed with Lymphoma at KU Medical Center in 2016. She moved to the Waterford Apartments and completed her chemotherapy in Springfield. She had six great years of friendship playing bingo for money and card games of all sorts. In the later part of 2021 the Lymphoma returned and chemo resumed. Mom entered hospice in September.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband; her in-laws; all of her siblings; two nieces; and one nephew. 

Survivors include her daughter, Jerilyn Jones and husband Mike of Kansas City, MO; her son, James Lucas and wife Marilyn of Springfield, MO; step-children; and sister-in-law, Dixie Farmer. Also surviving are family members of the Lucas, Rader, Bigelow, Farmer, and Brown families, along with many friends.

Graveside services will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, October 10, 2022, in Greenfield Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contribution may be made to the Greenfield Cemetery. Services are under the care of Greenfield Funeral Chapel.