Lucetria Tetley

     Lucetria “Lucy” Tetley (nee Vardell), age 91 of Sycamore Hills, Missouri, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, February 22, 2023. She was born on Saturday, January 2, 1932, in Puxico, Missouri, the youngest of five children of Lonnie and Edna (nee Hughes) Vardell. She was raised in Puxico and graduated early from Puxico High School in 1948. She married the love of her life, Martin Lee Tetley, on August 14, 1954, at the Puxico Homecoming. Later, they moved to St. Louis and eventually settled in Sycamore Hills. When they first came to St. Louis, they helped charter Parkway Baptist Church in Creve Coeur. As they moved, they changed their membership to Overland Baptist Church. Lucy served there for many years as church secretary, as well as being involved with the youth organizations and the Women’s Missionary Union. After retiring, they moved their membership to the First Baptist Church of St. John where she remained a faithful member until entering glory. In addition to loving her family, Lucy enjoyed being outdoors, watching the birds, and tending to her flower gardens. She also enjoyed working jigsaw puzzles, listening to Bluegrass music, and long trips traveling with Martin in their R.V.
     Lucy was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 59 years, Martin Tetley; and four siblings and their spouses, Brady (Hazel) Vardell, Stella (Dwight) Peters, JC (Mavis) Vardell, and Loretta (John) Roach. She is survived by three children and their spouses, Edna Tetley, Cynthia (Kevin) Brooks, and Sandra (John) Bolton; seven grandchildren and their spouses, Kathleen Brooks, Samantha Brooks, J.R. (Michelle) Brooks, Geoffrey (Mary Kathleen) Bolton, Ryan (Christine) Bolton, Nathan Bolton, and Timothy Bolton; six great-grandchildren Colleen Appelbaum, Levi Bolton, Everett Bolton, Joel Bolton, Gavin Bolton, Birdie Bolton and two expected great-grandchildren. She also was a dear aunt, sister-in-law, cousin, and friend.
     Services: Celebration of Life at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home, 300 N. Hickman St. Puxico, Missouri with gathering for family and friends on Thursday, March 16 from 1:00 p.m. until the service at 3:00 p.m. Burial immediately following at the Puxico City Cemetery.
     Memorials: In lieu of flowers, Lucy’s family suggests donations in her memory be made to Parkway Baptist Church, 12465 Olive Boulevard, Creve Coeur, MO 63141 or at www.parkwaybaptist.net. (Donations should be noted as "Tetley Memorial Fund" to be distributed to the Children’s Ministry.)