Missy Nobo

Amazing mother, wife, and teacher, Missy Nobo, 67, died on August 8th 2018, at her home in Lawrence, KS after a long but fierce battle with breast cancer. As was true for more than 45 years of her life, Missy’s devoted family attended to her in the final hours.

Missy was born Melissa Dorn Lummus in Tulsa, OK, on December 29, 1950 to parents James and Dorothy Lummus. She lived in Tulsa until leaving for college at the University of Arkansas. Unsettled with the racist environment in Arkansas, Missy transferred to University of Oklahoma after her freshman year for a more tolerant community. It was at OU that she was a member of Pi Beta Phi and the yearbook club. She met her husband, Joe, a charming gentleman from Havana, Cuba during her sophomore year.

Missy and Joe were married in Tulsa on December 29, 1971 (Missy’s 21st birthday!). They promptly moved to Ponce, Puerto Rico for three years so that Joe could pursue his career with Josten’s. Upon leaving Puerto Rico, they ventured north to Topeka, KS where they put down roots and started a family. They were blessed with three children who joined them as they made their final move to Lawrence in 1995, where Missy taught and completed a fulfilling 25-year career as a special education teacher.

She earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees, summa cum laude, in education from Washburn University. Missy applied her exceptional skills in Lawrence teaching for Prairie Park, Quail Run, Wakarusa, and Broken Arrow schools; where she piloted a therapeutic class room and met an amazing group of close friends with whom she cherished many happy memories.

Upon her retirement, she took time to travel with her children; spend quality time with her sweet granddaughters; enjoy girls’ nights with her friends from school; and sit comfortably at home with Joe, in their matching chairs, watching their favorite shows.

But most of all, Missy was a mother. She was tough yet supportive, compassionate yet pragmatic, silly but stern. Missy was a fan of good music and loved to dance with a Bloody Mary in her hand.

She is survived in life by her parents, James and Dorothy Lummus; brothers Jamie, John, and Jeff, and sister Laurey Lummus-White; her loving husband, Joe Nobo; and their three children, Peter Nobo, Lana Nobo-Garcia and Caroline Sarnoff; children-in-law, Torri Nobo, Mike Garcia, and Jesse Sarnoff; beloved granddaughters Ella, Addeline, Graci, Lawson, and Havana. As well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and grateful students. She will meet her son Joshua and her Nana in Heaven.

Missy’s family would like to acknowledge and thank the compassionate and extremely competent team of professionals at Visiting Nurses who cared for Missy at home during the final days of her life.

Friends and family are encouraged to attend a service celebrating Missy’s life on Monday, August 13th, 2018 at 3:00pm, Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence.

For more information or to post a condolence go to warrenmcelwain.com.