Elaine Virginia Bane Mears, 79, of Buena Vista, Virginia, died Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017 at Augusta Health.
Born Nov. 15, 1938, in the Collierstown area of Rockbridge County, she was the youngest of three daughters of the late John Vester Bane and Mittie Gillispie Bane.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her sisters, Frances Marie Ferguson and Bertha Jennings, and one brother-in-law, Melvin Ferguson.
Elaine was educated in Rockbridge County Schools, Highland Belle Elementary, Borden's Run Elementary and Lavesia, through seventh grade, and Lexington High School. She loved going to school, but enjoyed the occasional snow day or teacher's work day.
After high school, Elaine worked at First National Bank in Lexington as a bookkeeper/teller for two years - a job that she loved.
Elaine went to Longwood College in 1959, where she earned a BA in English with a certificate in elementary education in 1963. Immediately after graduation, she entered the teaching profession and taught 6-7 grade science for four years at Mount Vernon Elementary School in Roanoke County. She loved teaching even though the first year she had to work hard to stay ahead of the seventh grade class, since science wasn't her field.
She went to East Carolina University the summer after her first year of teaching for two science classes which better prepared her for coming back to the classroom. Hopefully, she was able to leave a lasting impression on the students who passed through her classroom.
After moving back to Lexington, Elaine's next career was 17 years at Leyburn Library, Washington and Lee University - another job she loved. After retiring from Washington and Lee, she pursued yet another dream of nursing. She went to Blue Ridge Community College at the age of 63, and obtained her nursing degree. She then worked at Western State until retiring again to care for her grandchildren.
When Elaine was a sophomore at Longwood, she met her "prince in shining armor" and loved him more that he will ever know. Her days at Longwood were as pleasurable as all of the rest of her life has been. She made life-long friends, some of whom she was still in contact with after 50 plus years.
Surviving are her husband of 55 years, Robert M. Mears; daughters, Laura M. Huffman and husband, Sean of Lexington, Dana Mears Southers, Monica Duke and Sarah Mears, all of Buena Vista; sons, David Mears of Buena Vista and Doug Mears of Staunton; 12 grandchildren and one great-grandson and one great-granddaughter, all of whom were precious to her; as well as brother-in law, Warren D. Jennings of Chesapeake and sister-in law, Mitzi Graham of Ohio, and nieces and nephews.
Elaine grew up as a devout Baptist, received Jesus as Lord and Savior when she was a young teenager. She considered herself to have had a very blessed life and if she could have gone back she wouldn't have changed a thing. She taught adult ladies Sunday school class at Manly Memorial Baptist Church since 1995 until her current illness forced her to stop. These classes were such a joy to her as were the wonderful group of ladies she had to opportunity to teach (some who have since gone home to be with the Lord).
In 1989 Elaine had the opportunity to be instrumental in bringing John Wesley White from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association to Rockbridge County for a crusade. A few years after the crusade, she had a life-long dream realized when she traveled to the Holy Land and actually got to see and walk in the places where Jesus lived and ministered.
In later years, Elaine had the opportunity to go on a medical mission trip with a group from Manly Memorial to Honduras and also had another opportunity to travel with a group from Manly to Brazil with retired missionaries Edith Vaughan Parker and John Parker. Edith retired from Brazil and John retired from Chile. Elaine also had the opportunity to travel to nearly all 50 states.
Through her example Elaine taught us all so many things. One of the greatest things she taught was about the endless love of Jesus Christ. Though it is with heavy hearts we say goodbye to her for now, it is because of the love of Jesus Christ and his death on the cross that afforded our salvation that we celebrate her homecoming today with joyous hearts.
A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 11, 2017 at Harrison Funeral Home with Dr. Michael Wilkins officiating. Burial will follow at Rockbridge Memorial Gardens Mausoleum.
The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10.
Arrangements are by Harrison Funeral Home & Crematory.
