On Saturday, October 10, 2020, just two days after her 104th birthday, Stella Lucille “Nana” (Looney) Tomlinson passed away in Merritt Island, Florida. She was surrounded by members of her family at the time. Lucille was born in 1916 in Tazwell County Virginia to Crocket and Pricy Jane (Childres) Looney and it was there she met and married her husband Stewart Tomlinson (deceased). Together, they had two beautiful daughters. Her first born Tressa Carter and husband Larry Carter have two daughters, Kerie Carter and Kimberly Matheny. Kimberly blessed Lucille with one great grandson Taylor Matheny. Taylor and wife Jessica Gann Matheny blessed Lucille with one great great granddaughter Meritt Grace Matheny. Her second born Carolyn Butler (deceased) and her husband Jeff Butler (deceased) have two children David Butler and Amy Butler. David and Sherri Butler blessed Lucille with a great grandson Stewart Butler. She is the last of her generation in our family to leave our earthly bonds and join the others in heaven.
Lucille’s first passion was serving the Lord. Her faith and desire to share God’s love was displayed each day through her actions and kindness towards others. She did not have to carry around a Bible or wear a cross around her neck for others to know she was a Christian. Her daily actions and kindness towards others exhibited God’s Grace every day.
Gardening was also a passion of Lucille’s. She spent hours outside working in her garden. She went to great limits to insure she had a successful yield each season. Almost every meal she prepared included fresh ingredients from her backyard garden. Lucille’s recipes seldom measured specific ingredients but were filed with love and no one ever left the table hungry.
Lucille lived her life utilizing old-fashion traditions. She sent handwritten notes and cards for every life event, even a stubbed toe would get you a get-well card. Having lived through the Great Depression, she found a new use for everything. No plastic bag or container was ever discarded but rather stored in the dishwasher, (which she never used for washing dishes) until their new use was discovered. She crafted handmade quilts for every member of the family that often-included fabric from and old dress or shirt she had made years ago.
Lucille’s life was not just gardening, cooking, sewing and note writing. She was smart, wise, and very funny. She had a clever way of sharing her insightful opinions. In a true southern woman tradition, “Well, Bless Your Heart” would almost always follow spontaneous statements.
Lucille was devoted to caring for her granddaughter Amy who was diagnosed with Autism. She routinely cared for her granddaughter until Lucille was well into her nineties. The two of them had a very special bond.
Lucille’s was a petite woman, but her life was big. God was a big part of her life. She had a big family.
She made big meals. She gave big hugs. She loved big. She volunteered and donated a big part of her life. No one can ever fill the big legacy she left behind. We can only show Lucille we watched her and learned from her and make her proud. This is not goodbye, it’s see you later.
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