Thelma Gail Spencer Wade

Thelma Spencer Wade died Tuesday evening, Feb. 15, 2011, at home in Thomasville, Ga., of natural causes, at the age of 95. Mrs. Wade was born in Clinton, Ill., on Jan. 31, 1916. She and her husband, Vernon Wade, were long-time residents of Nevada, Mo., where they reared their family. Mrs. Wade taught school for 44 years, and was dearly loved by her students. Most of these years, she taught fifth grade in Nevada. However she also taught in Ketterman, Mo., Bronaugh, Mo., Galina, Kan., El Dorado Springs, Mo., and Overland Park, Kan.

After her husband passed, Mrs. Wade moved to Thomasville 11 years ago to be with her daughter, Marilyn Wade Brown. In Thomasville, she enjoyed reading and listening to books on tape, water aerobics at the YMCA, traveling with her daughter and friends, visiting with family and friends, viewing wildlife and flowers from the back porch, snuggling with her kittens and puppies, visiting with grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and attending church and Sunday school at Thomasville's First United Methodist Church. Mrs. Wade was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon Wade; her son, Jerry Wade; her three younger brothers, Ralph, Dean and Thornton Spencer; and her entire Sunday school class. She is survived by a sister, Wilma Kennedy of Kansas City, Mo.; her son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Wade of Clinton, Mo.; a daughter-in-law, Cecy Wade of Red Bluff, Calif.; a daughter, Marilyn Wade Brown of Thomasville, Ga.; 10 grandchildren, Caleb and Wesley Brown of Thomasville, Ga., Amy Tiede, Jennifer Wade Gundy and Laura Wade of Missouri, and Jeranna Wade Hale, Brady Wade, Holly Wade, Ben Wade and Logan Wade of Red Bluff, Calif.; and 14 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Wade's favorite activity was visiting with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Wade's family treasures every experience that she shared with us, and the values she instilled in us. Mrs. Wade, Mama, Grandma, will be sorely missed.

A graveside memorial service will be held at Newton Burial Park in Nevada at a later date.