LOETA THOMPSON

LAMAR- Services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the First Christian Church in Lamar for Lottie Loeta (Tullis) Thompson, 94, Lamar, who died Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021.

Arrangements are under the direction of Konantz Warden Funeral Home.

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the First Christian Church Building Fund or the Barton County Senior Center.

Condolences may be sent online at www.konantzwarden.com.

Survivors include her children, Phillip and wife Kim, Bakersfield, Calif. and Jan and Phillip Hofschulte, Miami, Okla.; three grandchildren, Chris and wife Kaitlyn Hofschulte, Miami, Okla., Natalie Hofschulte, Miami, Okla. and Nick and wife Holly Hofschulte, Miami, Okla.; great-grandchildren, Kinley Marie Hofschulte, Harper Hofschulte, Hayslyn Hofschulte and Halee Hofschulte and sisters-in-law, Thelma Friebe and Mona Tullis and many other loving family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband and her siblings, Bill Tullis, Charlie Tullis and wife Pauline and Jim Tullis and wife Shirley.

Mrs. Thompson was born Nov. 10, 1926, in Carthage, to Jim and Mary (McDaniel) Tullis. She was a 1946 graduate of Jasper High School and moved to Springfield, where she lived with her uncle, R.E. McDaniel’s family and attended Blue Bonnet Beauty School. She always remembered her time there fondly. She was treated like another daughter and her cousin, Shug Hancock, became a sister in a relationship they continued for the rest of her life. In 1950 she was working at the Charm Beauty Shop in Jasper when she met Norman Thompson, who was working at the local funeral home. From that point on it is hard to refer to Loeta without including Norm.

On March 11, 1951, she married Norman Thompson at the First Christian Church in Jasper. She waited at home while he served in the Army from 1951 to 1953. After he returned, they made their home in Lamar.

Norman and Loeta came to work for Carl Konantz in 1953 and she fixed hair and continued to be the smiling face at the door of the funeral home until her death. She was a member of the First Christian Church in Lamar and continued to serve there, putting together the newsletter and bulletins every week. She served in many positions in the church including VBS and collected stamps at church that they turned into money for missions. She also ordered Sunday school material, sang in the choir, helped in the nursery and worked the kitchen at Camp Cyokamo for many years. She was a faithful member, since 1953 of the Golden Band Sunday school class.

Loeta and Norman were dedicated to Barton County and Lamar. They supported the veterans, the history of the county and the community through faithful service and always had a project or organization that they supported with their time and finances. They were members of the American Legion, where Mrs. Thompson served as treasurer for many years. They were part of the Camera Club, where they enjoyed taking photos. They collected photos throughout the year and created a slide show at the fair that played at Maberry’s Barber Shop. They served on the Lamar Free Fair Board.

Mrs. Thompson served as the Superintendent of Pastries at the fair for many years, preparing the exhibit for judging. She also organized and provided refreshments for the monthly Barton County Historical Society meeting. Together, with Norman, she organized a Surviving Spouse’s group that met, had activities and went to dinner and other outings together. She was a member of the Fiber Art Guild, the Business and Professional Women, Red Hatters, delivered Meals on Wheels, was an election poll worker and enjoyed her time, outings and special friendships with the Chat and Chew.

There is not enough room to list all the work completed by this couple with a servant’s heart. Their contribution to Barton County was never ending. Complacency was not in their nature. There was always work to be done. Loeta loved music and completing crossword puzzles from the Joplin Globe. She kept a diary and photo books of her life and of the lives of those she loved. She loved to travel and see God’s majesty. In all, Loeta and Norman lived a full and contented life.