PATTON, Mo. -- Lena Mae Fulton, 79, of Patton passed away Saturday, April 26, 2014, at Jackson Manor.

She was born June 12, 1934, the first of five children, to the late Jeffie and Edith Hendrix Hahn of Perryville, Mo. She and William "Bill" Fulton of Patton were married on May 17, 1953, at Reagan's Chapel in Patton.

Lena Mae graduated from Perryville High School at the age of 16 and began her devoted 50-year teaching career the following fall for three years at the Silver Lake Rural School District. She then taught briefly at the Madison County School District for two years before making her home at the Meadow Heights R-II District, where she taught second grade for 45 years. She earned a bachelor's degree, master's degree and reading specialist from Southeast Missouri State University. Upon Mrs. Lena Mae's retirement in 2002, the Meadow Heights District named the elementary library in her honor.

Mrs. Lena Mae was a member of the Patton United Methodist Church and a familiar face at various community events. She served the community through organizations such as 4-H, Saddle Club, Community Table and numerous other civic groups. She was a founding member of the Community Closet and was granted a lifetime membership in the Bollinger County Historical Society and Castor River Coon Hunters.

Mrs. Lena Mae's community support also included her sponsorship of many ball teams and gate-keeping at the elementary basketball tournaments. Her generosity, community service and baking will be greatly missed.

Survivors include her husband, William "Bill" Fulton, daughter, Lora (Timothy) Adams, and son, Randy (Linda) Fulton; all of Patton; four grandchildren Lana (Dustin) Bannister of Patton, Joshua (Angie) Fulton of Potosi, Mo., Brad (Mary) Adams of Leopold, Mo., and Heath (Angela) Fulton of St. Peters, Mo.; six great-grandchildren, Nash, Brantley, Tyler, Brayden, Jacob and Lacey; sisters Leola (Carl) McDowell of Perryville, LeeAnn Smith of Patton and Leona (Harold) Webb of Patton; brothers and sisters-in-law Robert and Maxine Fulton of Patton, James and Mary Jane Fulton of Patton and Gerald and Shelbia Fulton of Farmington, Mo; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Jeffie and Edith Hahn; brother LeRoy Hahn; brother-in-law Lloyd Smith; and nephews and niece Darrin Webb and Greg and Yvonne Fulton.

Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today at the Liley Funeral Home in Patton.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Stella Turner officiating.

Interment will be in the Patton Cemetery in Patton.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Pine Hill Community Closet.