Edith “Lucille” Pearce, 77, of Novinger, Missouri, passed away Monday (July 2, 2012) at University Missouri Hospital in Columbia, Missouri.

The daughter of Charles Benjiman and Ella Emma Jane (Miller) Truitt, she was born September 18, 1934 in Pure Air, Missouri. On April 15, 1951 Lucille married Lester Junior Lay who preceded her in death on October 11, 1955. On December 21, 1956 in Kirksville, Missouri, Lucille married Thomas A. Pearce who preceded her in death on March 6, 2007.

She was also preceded in death by four brothers, Bob, Walter, Max and Lavern Truitt; three sisters, Geraldine Hays, Dorothy Klingsmith and Beulah Wood; her father and mother-in-law, Dent and Teresa Pearce; brothers-in-law, Herb Mudd, Leo Boone, Harry Kelley, Paul Wood, Eugene Hays, Glen Klingsmith, Jim Pearce, Joe Pearce, Bill Pearce, Jim Nelson and Wayne DeVore and sisters-in-law, Imogene Truitt, Louise Truitt, Alma Truitt, Jane Truitt, Ruth Nelson, Ann DeVore and Mary Pearce.

Lucille is survived by three daughters, Judy Filkins and husband Claude of Kirksville, MO, Joan Ellsworth of Novinger, MO, and special friend, Steve Starbuck of Queen City, MO and Janice Pearce and special friend, Mike Schmitter of Novinger, MO; two brothers and a sister-in-law, Hubert and Evelyn Truitt of Kirksville, MO and Arnold Truitt of Macon, MO; two sisters, Lillie Boone of Albany, OR and Norma Kelley of Grants Pass, OR; sisters-in-law, Virginia Truitt of Lamar, CO and Joanne Pearce of Novinger, MO; ten grandchildren, Matthew Filkins, Benjamin Filkins, Miranda Salsberry, Amber Weston, Desirae Person, Samantha McAtee, Bradley Apodaca, Scott Van Luvan, Brandy Shively and Lane Van Luvan; and fourteen great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins. She is also survived by special friends, Bill Wyatt, Emil D. Casey, Vera Truitt, Willa Dean Lawrence and Vince McQueen.

Lucille lived most of her life in Novinger, Missouri, receiving her education at the West Elm Grove rural school. At a young age, Lucille worked in several area restaurants before babysitting out of her home for many years. In 1968 she moved to Wyaconda, MO, where she enjoyed working for Bourgeois General Store. She returned to Novinger in the fall of 1969 and began babysitting a number of years. She was last employed as a Hostess at Taco Bell in Kirksville, until retiring in 1996.

Lucille will be remembered for being actively involved in the Novinger community, for being a wonderful cook, a magic noodle maker, for her wonderful tuna salad, for her spectacular cinnamon rolls and pies and for being a fabulous ceramic painter. She was also a very accomplished seamstress, enjoyed jigsaw puzzles and loved playing Bingo and going to the “Boat”.

She was always willing to help in any way at the Novinger Fire Department and with Novinger Renewal. Lucille designed and made the only existing Novinger flag that was donated to Novinger Renewal at the time of her husband’s death.

Public visitation will be held Friday (July 6, 2012) from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the chapel of Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville, Missouri.

Graveside service will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday (July 7, 2012) at Novinger Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Ronnie Truitt, Vince McQueen, Mario Razo, Dave West, Billy Jo Pearce and Eldon Hays.

Expressions of sympathy in memory of Lucille Pearce may be made to Novinger Planned Progress. Memorials may be left at or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501.