Lula Jane Girard

Lula Jane Girard, 77, of California, Mo., died Tuesday, November 24, 2015, at Capital Region Medical Center with her family by her side. She was born January 20, 1938, on the family farm near High Point to Guy P. and Mabel J. (Hodel) Hale. She began her first year of school at Hale School, a one room school house built on land her grandfather had donated. Lu moved with her parents to California at the age of six and resided in the area the rest of her life. On June 26, 1960, she married John C. îJakeî Girard Jr. who preceded her in death on July 31, 2009. Lu became a member of the California United Church of Christ as a teenager, where she served as a Sunday School teacher, was part of the Prayer Cell and volunteered whenever there was a need. After staying home to raise her children, she was employed as a cashier at Calís Thriftway for many years. Later, she became the first drive-through teller at the Village Green facility of the Farmers and Traders Bank. She greatly enjoyed meeting and serving the public. In retirement she was able to volunteer in her great grandsonís classroom and looked forward to it every week. Lu loved visiting with friends, coffee, travel and dining out. There were regular Friday evening gatherings at their home for friends for many years. Until her health declined, she would also meet groups of friends regularly at Burger Haus and Nic Nac. She is survived by: her daughters, Cindy Martin with David Wilde and Sherry Koetting with husband Greg, both of Jefferson City; two grandchildren, Alaina Volkart with husband Ryan of California and Evan Martin of Lohman; and three great-grandchildren, Connor, Claire and Ava Volkart. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Ada Lou Hale in 1940 and grandson, Craig W. Tuttle on May 3, 2011. Visitation will be at 12:00 noon ñ 2:00 p.m., Friday, November 27, 2015, at the California United Church of Christ. Funeral Service will be at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, November 27, 2015, at the California United Church of Christ. Officiating will be Rev. Andrew Lovins. Burial will be at the California Evangelical Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the California United Church of Christ General Fund. Arrangements are under the direction of the Bowlin ñ Cantriel Funeral Services, 100 South Oak Street, California, MO.