Ermaleen (Lea) Landon began her life journey on July 12, 1934, in Kansas City, MO. She celebrated her gift of life for 82 years, passing on to another life on September 10, 2016.
Her years were filled with meaning as she understood herself as part of that community called to be the hands and feet of Christ. Volunteer work defined her life. In the late 1970s she served as a Nursing Home Ombudsmen, helped organize the Hospice movement in Springfield in the 1980s and created several outreach ministries through the Springfield Area Council of Churches during the same period.
In 1987 Lea was ordained a licensed minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and served as Director of Lay Ministries and Pastoral Care at National Ave. Christian Church. A year later she completed her Clinical Pastoral Care program at Research Hospital in Kansas City.
Throughout the 1990s she served in a variety of volunteer roles for the Alzheimer’s Association and St. John’s Hospice Care. Most recently she served as Volunteer Coordinator for Congregational Care Ministries at Wesley United Methodist Church.
Her cheer-leading skills in high school persisted into her 80s as she witnessed her grandchildren and great grandchildren play volleyball, soccer, basketball, football and baseball. She also enjoyed the quiet time sitting in a swing on the dock at Table Rock watching a storm gather over the lake. Another favorite spot was the hiking trail to Iceberg Lake in Glacier National Park. The windows in the sun room at home gave her hours of fascination watching humming birds, squirrels, rabbits, blossoming geraniums, thriving hosta, climbing clematis and birds splashing in the bird bath.
Lea lost a son, Mark, in 2015. She leaves her husband Don and five children and their families to celebrate her life: Larry Chapman and Donna, Jon Landon and Janis, Scott Landon and Nancy, Mary Landon and Renee, David Landon and Lisa, as well as 12 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Wesley United Methodist Church, 922 W. Republic Road on Saturday, September 17. Visitation at the church at 10 am, Service at 11. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Lea Landon Gerontology and Nursing Scholarship at Missouri State University.
Permanent online condolences, stories and photos may be shared at www.hhlohmeyer.com.