Lance Jarrett Venable

LANCE JARRETT VENABLE
September 6, 1968 - April 1, 2024
Lance Jarrett Venable, 55 years young, died peacefully on Monday, April 1, at his home in North Richland Hills, Texas. Lance was born in Oklahoma City and was a golf professional with a lifelong passion and love for the greatest game ever invented. He started golfing at the young age of seven at Honey Creek Golf Club, in his hometown of Aurora, Missouri. At that time his grandfather teed up a ball in the fairway, handed Lance a club, and said "hit it straight." Lance hit it straight up the fairway, the ball hit the flagstick on the green and Lance received his first set of golf clubs shortly thereafter. Throughout his youth, teens and twenties, Lance and his father played in and won many golf tournaments in the Aurora-Springfield area.
After graduating Aurora High School, Lance attended and graduated from William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, with a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Management. He was a walk-on player for the William Jewell College Golf Team his freshman year, and continued playing on the golf team through his senior year.
After graduating from William Jewell, Lance worked as a Production and Inventory Control Manager with Little Tikes Corporation and then followed his heart and passion for the game he loved so much to Grapevine Golf Course in 1995. Over the course of nearly 30 years Lance worked in every capacity at Grapevine – the Pro Shop, Tournaments, Driving Range, Teaching and the Cart Barn. He even helped the Greenskeeping team when he could. Most of all, Lance truly enjoyed working with and seeing thousands of his customers embrace the game as much as he did. Over the years Lance counted it a privilege to coach and instruct many individuals and groups at all levels of the game including many junior golfers from Grapevine High School.
Lance enjoyed travelling the world with his wife, hanging with friends, being "Daddy" to his standard poodle pups, sipping a good cabernet, and savoring fine food. In addition to Grapevine Golf Course, Lance was thrilled to tee it up on other elite courses across the globe including St. Andrews Old Course, Waterville, Cork Island Golf Club, TPC Sawgrass, Dove Mountain, Torrey Pines, Kapalua, Troon North, Ko'Olina, Princeville at Hanalei, Wailea, PGA West, LaQuinta and Myrtle Beach.
Lance was preceded in death by his beloved father, John Jarrett Venable. He is survived by his 'Bride, Best Friend & Forever Love', (golf) playing partner, and wife of nearly 26 years, Lahni Venable.
Also surviving are his mother, Mary Lynn Venable; sister, Leann Sandoval (Joe Radon); beloved nieces, Brookelynn and Hannah; and stepmother, Ranea Venable; all of Verona, Missouri. His brother, John Venable, and family also survive.
Lance and his wife would like to thank so many for their help, care and kindness extended while Lance was sick -- Family; Friends; the Golf Pros, Part Time and Greens Colleagues at Grapevine Golf Course; the City of Grapevine; Doctors, Surgeons, Nursing and Rehab Teams (too numerous to count) at Baylor Grapevine; and the Care Team at White's Chapel Methodist Church. Their compassion for Lance in his time of great need will never be forgotten.
Lance leaves a legacy of what is truly important in life: God First, Family Second, Golf Third. He always enjoyed a good round -- teeing up, sweeping the dew down green fairways, in and over bunkers and onto pristine, emerald greens. Lance lived a life well played -- full of patience, kindness, humility, hard work, honesty, and love -- all enhanced by his gentle smile and incredible sense of humor. He is an example for us all and will be missed by everyone who knew and loved him.
On Wednesday, April 10, 2024, a Celebration of Lance's Life will be held at 10:00 a.m. in Grace Chapel at White’s Chapel Methodist Church, 185 S. White’s Chapel Blvd., Southlake, Texas 76092.
A luncheon reception immediately follows at Grapevine Golf Course, 3800 Fairway Drive, Grapevine, Texas 76051.