Sylvia Ruth McNamara Lanning, age 86, passed into the arms of Jesus from her home in Spring, Texas on Friday, January 5, 2024. Born April 28, 1937, in Orange, Texas, she was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m., Thursday, January 11, 2024, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Officiating will be Stephen Lilly. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Orange.

Visitation will begin prior to the service at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, January 11, 2024, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.

After being widowed at a young age, she earned a Bachelor of Education degree at Sam Houston State University while in her late 30’s. She later married her high school sweetheart, Robert (Bobby), whom she first met in Sunday school at Park Avenue Methodist Church.

Sylvia taught Kindergarten for 26 years in the Beaumont and Hardin-Jefferson School Districts and was known for her creative teaching aids, custom made for her students and her classroom. She was celebrated for her much-anticipated annual end-of-schoolyear plays that she produced and directed, and for which she made costumes and props (often Bobby helped with the props, too).

Sylvia had a passion for many things, in addition to teaching. One had only to enter her home to see her talent for decorating, her love for working in the yard and gardening, and her amazing skill at planning and hosting the gatherings of family and friends, who loved her cooking and the special attention she paid to creating a memorable occasion with a beautifully themed dining table. She loved flowers and was a Garden Club member and served as president, earning awards for her flower arrangements. Anyone who spent time with Sylvia would have known her love for shopping, an avid hobby of hers. Her kindness for others often showed itself in home-cooked meals or gifts that were delivered to family, friends and neighbors with love and care. With Bobby across the table from her, she enjoyed playing bingo with friends at her assisted living community. In her later years, nothing gave her more pleasure than getting visits, viewing pictures and videos of the great grandchildren, and buying them clothes, toys, and of course, books.

Sylvia was preceded in death by her parents, Ruth McNamara Prejean and Michael Lee McNamara, as well as her brother Michael Lee (Mickey) McNamara.
She is survived by her husband, Robert M. Lanning, and her three children, Mark Carr (Cindy) of Spring,
Cindi Carr (Don Mackay) of Richmond, and Leigh Carr Terrell (Chuck) of Bella Vista, Arkansas, as well as a grandson, Blake, and other relatives. Bobby and Sylvia were married for 47 years and blended their families when they got married. Sylvia is also survived by his three children, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

The love, compassion and care provided by Devotion Hospice will always be remembered with gratitude.
Sylvia will be greatly missed.