Annabelle Lasley

Annabelle Doty Lasley age 98, of Leawood, Kansas passed away Sunday, September 24th, 2023.

Annabelle was born August 2, 1925 in Stark, Kansas. Daughter of H. Avon Doty and Maude Marie (Gemmill) Doty.

On December 4,1945 she was united in marriage to her “sailor,” the love of her life, Wayne E. Lasley, they shared 59 years of marriage before his passing on February 1, 2005.

If you were to ask Annabelle what she did she would answer you “many things” and she was right. Not only was she a mentor to all who knew her. She was a loving wife and mother, leader, entrepreneur, a traveler...with a zest for life, and she loved to dance.

Annabelle started her life in Stark, Kansas. During her senior year at Chanute High School she worked afternoons as head floorwalker in a powdered-egg plant supervising numerous employees including her mother who also worked there. After graduation she headed to Wichita, Kansas where Boeing was hiring women to build the B-29 Superfortress. She was hired and received training to read blueprints, lay out jigs and rivet. Because of her extensive training with Boeing, she occasionally trained newly hired employees. While working at Boeing she joined the USO and along with other young women wearing hula skirts and can-can outfits they entertained the Air Force troops in Hutchison, Kansas. After moving to California, Annabelle was hired at Douglas aircraft as a riveter on the DC-6. She worked on the fuselages before being transferred to instrument inspection. She also inspected President Roosevelt’s Boeing 314 the Dixie Clipper and in 1947 she riveted and helped layout the fuselage on President Harry Truman‘s new plane, the Independence, along with placing the markings on the instruments in the cockpit. In 1948 she and Wayne moved back to Missouri and she began training for her second career as a cosmetologist. Missing the world of aviation, Annabelle went to work for General Motors in the engineering department, they were building the F-84F Thunderstreak turbojet fighter. She worked there until 1955 when they began to faze out from building aircraft. She then went to work at Westinghouse in the scientific library where they were building jet engines. In 1959 she left the world of aviation to stay home and spend time with her children. In 1963 she opened Lasley Hair Fashions in Overland Park, Kansas and a second salon in 1968. She ran both salons until she retired in 1988. As no hairstylist can ever truly retire, Wayne built her a salon in the basement at their home where she continued to do hair until the age of 93. She also enjoyed crocheting, shopping and spending time with family and friends. She was a member of Overland Park Trail Blazers, Trailblazers Investment Club and Rags to Riches Investment Club. She was, is, and always will be an inspiration to all who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, loving husband Wayne Lasley, brother Johnie Doty, two sisters Alma Haden and Opal Mainey, and son-in-law Bob McCormick.

Annabelle is survived by her children, Terry Lasley (Debby) of Kansas City, Kansas; Tena Lasley McCormick and partner Benny Avis of Gravois Mills, Missouri; Daughter-in-law JoAnn DeMeyer (Jerry) of Kansas City, Kansas; three grandchildren, Jenny Mergel (Rich) Venice, Florida, Jessy Lasley of Kansas City, Kansas and Ryan McCormick of Versailles, Missouri. Four great- grandchildren Tristan, Carson, Sophie, and Naomie. Sister, Mary Lee Lowery, Overland Park, Kansas; and many other relatives and friends.