Etta "Verniece" Lea, nee Turnbough, of Steelville, Missouri passed away Saturday, November 7, 2015 at the age of 85 years, 11 months and 19 days. She was born November 19, 1929 at Huzzah, Missouri to Wayne and Luettie Scott Turnbough. On April 7, 1951 in Salem, AR., Verniece was united in marriage to Charles "Hack" Lea who passed away in 2014. Verniece taught in the public school system and retired from the Steelville Schools in 1988 after thirty-six years of service. She was a long-time member of the Steelville First Baptist Church and was a dedicated chairperson of the church library for over thirty-seven years and taught Sunday school and church training. Verniece was a past member of the Crawford County Literary Council, past President of the Golden Echoes Board, past member of Gibbs Care, Community Betterment Program and an advocate in building the Steelville Library. She will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her son, Gary Lea of Azle, TX; one daughter, Sandy Earney and husband Treff of Steelville, MO; one brother, Gilbert Turnbough and wife Louise of Cuba, MO; brothers-in-law, Pete Lea and wife Bonnie and Bill Lea and wife Dormalee all of Steelville, MO; one sister-in-law, Shirley Mager of Steelville, MO; three grandchildren, Eric Earney and wife Melanie, Lana Mabe and husband Matt and Wayne Earney; four great-grandchildren; Rylee and Landon Mabe and Hailey and Cammie Earney; other relatives and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Wayne and Luettie Turnbough; her husband, Hack Lea; two brothers, Clarence Turnbough and wife Opal, and Glen Turnbough and wife Juanita; two sisters, Fran Guess and husband Frank and Pauline "Polly" Walden and husband Walter; brother-in-laws, Bud Lea and wife Dottie, Charles Counts and Richard Majer; and sister-in-law, Matred Kehner and husband Leslie. The Family received friends from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 8, 2015 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, MO. Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 9, 2015 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, MO with Rev. Kevin Farr and Pastor Kermit Lonning, Jr. officiating. Special music of "Til the Storm Passes By" and "Even in the Valley" was sung by Vernon Bradley and Laura Whisler. Committal prayer and interment were in the Steelville Cemetery. Honored to be casket bearers were Matt Mabe, Eric Earney, Treff Earney, Wayne Earney, Bill Lea and Rusty Lea. The Family was served by the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of Steelville, MO.