Thelma B. Fee

Thelma Beatrice Huitt – passed away on Monday, November 21, 2016 at Heritage Health nursing home. She was the daughter of Lawrence and Bertha Hutchings Huitt of Springfield. She is predeceased by siblings Katherine Hunter (Edward) of Palatine, IL, Dorothy Springfloat (Robert) and Harold Huitt both of Springfield. She married Robert E. Fee of Rochester (later of Springfield) in Edina, Missouri on October 9th, 1941; he predeceased her in 2005.

She is survived by one daughter, Nancy Enright (Michael) of Springfield. She is also survived by nephews Larry Huitt (Judy) and Chris Huitt of Springfield, Ray Hunter of Ava, IL and nieces, Patricia Tatman (Steve), Jane Fee, Imogene Day and Audrey Krofchick both of Springfield and Carol Ivanoff (Mario) of Denver with numerous great nephews and nieces of Springfield and the Chicago suburbs.

Beatrice (or “Bea”, which she was called for most of her life) was born in St. Francis County, Arkansas on June 29, 1919 while her parents were on vacation at a family farm, but was raised in Springfield where she attended Pleasant Hill Grade School and Springfield High School. She was a homemaker until 1957 when she began work as a secretary at Pleasant Hill elementary school through the early 70’s when she retired.

All of her life she loved singing and was quite active in music. She and her sister Dorothy sang bluegrass music on the radio program “WLS Barn Dance” in Chicago in the 1930’s; while they never became well known, they were nonetheless regular performers. Later as a married woman, she was a member of the “Mother Singers”, who were PTA members, performing at various Springfield events throughout the years.

Thelma (as she preferred to be called in her later years) was also an accomplished artist, specializing in acrylics and watercolors. Many of her paintings were put on display at the Senior Citizens Center of Springfield where she was able to sell many of her works.
When married, she and her husband Bob (who worked for many years at Sentinel Pest Control and was a loyal member of the Elks Club) spent almost every winter in Florida with their large collection of close friends. While back in Springfield, they were inveterate party givers (and attendees) enjoying life immensely with their many “party buddies”. Even as friends happened to move away over the years, they stayed in touch by weekend visits around Illinois and surrounding states, all meeting later in Florida over the holidays.

After her husband’s death in 2005, she became a devoted member of the Springfield Senior Citizens Center, attending art and singing classes twice a week, participating in their many activities and events. She painted prolifically many very attractive water colors which she was able to give away or sell. In later years, macular degeneration stopped her painting. Finally she had to move into Springfield Supportive Living, and later into Heritage Health where she passed away at the age of 97. Even though at that age, with most of her friends and relatives gone, there are many friends from Senior Citizens who will fondly remember her; she will be missed by many.

Visitation: 10:30 – 11:30 am, Monday, November 28, 2016 at Staab Funeral Home-Springfield.

Funeral Service: 11:30 am, Monday, November 28, 2016 at Staab Funeral Home-Springfield. Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery.