Obituaries
Claire W. Sunderland
Feb 13, 2026
Claire Whitney Sunderland, 38, passed away at St. Luke’s hospital on Friday, February 13 after suffering severe influenza and pneumonia. She was the daughter of Dr. Whitney and Kate Sunderland. Claire grew up in Leawood Kansas, attending Corinth Elementary, Mission Valley Middle School, and High School at the Barstow School. At Barstow she was an excellent student, starred in dramatics...
Barbara Adney Smith
Feb 13, 2026
This beautiful, brilliant, loving and faithful woman left the earth yesterday, after an epic 14-month battle with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Barbara Adney Smith, born Bobbie Jo Adney, was an inspiration to many people; six teenage boys all at once, going to college at 34 to earn a Masters of Arts in English, then becoming a college teacher and writer....
Patricia E. Lavery
Feb 12, 2026
Patricia Edith Lavery, 85, of Kansas City, MO, beloved mother, grandmother, and friend peacefully died on February 12, 2026. She was showered in love by her family, friends and caretakers at the time of her passing.
Pat was born August 13, 1940 to Bill and Mary Schoth (Sparks) at Research Hospital and grew up in Rosedale. She was married at Saint...
Loretta Gifford
Feb 10, 2026
Loretta Gifford, age 86, of Olathe, Kansas, passed away peacefully on February 10, 2026.
She was a cherished member of her community and will be remembered for her strength, her warm smile, and the love she shared with family and friends.
Loretta was born on September 21, 1939, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Orville and Beulah McGrew. She graduated from Rosedale High...
Carolyn Jane Davidson
Feb 9, 2026
A Life of Partnership
Carolyn’s story really began in Emporia, where she met Wayne and his black Hudson Hornet. From their wedding in 1956 onward, they were a team. Whether they were moving for Wayne’s law school, raising their two sons, Scott and Mark, on the Hallmark Farm, Mission Hills and Lee’s Summit, Carolyn was the constant heart of the family.
Dedication...
Alice Evelyn Justice
Feb 8, 2026
Alice Evelyn Justice, born on February 13, 1947, in the bustling heart of Kansas City, Missouri, made an indelible mark on the lives she touched before she passed peacefully on February 8, 2026, at St. Joseph Medical Center. A radiant spirit with a heart of gold, Alice will be fondly remembered as a dedicated baker and the beloved lunch lady...
Sophie Christine Symeon
Feb 7, 2026
Sophie Symeon passed away on Saturday February 7th, 2026 and 11:14 am. She was a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother who took care of her family until the end. Sophia was 93 at the time of her passing.
Sophia is survived by her two daughters Alexandra Symeon and Sotira Symeon; her son Stylianos Symeon; her grandson Loukas Symeon-Henry; and all of...
Robert Tomlin Owens
Feb 6, 2026
Robert Tomlin Owens, 62, of Overland Park, Kansas passed away February 6th after a brief illness. Robert was born Dec. 17, 1963, in Kansas City, Missouri to Jim and Peggy (Tomlin) Owens.
Robert was a warm, caring and engaging person, a natural athlete with a sense of humor that made life meaningful and fun.
The loves of his life were his wife...
Barbara M. Jones
Feb 5, 2026
Barbara Marshall Jones was born on June 28, 1935, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Dr. John and Virginia Marshall. She grew up in Union, Missouri, and later moved to Kansas City after college. Barbara lived in Overland Park for more than 50 years and passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, on February 5, 2026.
Barbara devoted her career to education,...
Donald McArthur III
Feb 2, 2026
Donald McArthur III, born August 10, 1946, in Kansas City, MO, went to be with his Lord on February 2, 2026, after a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by loved ones. He grew up a first generation American of Scottish heritage, graduated from Shawnee Mission North High School in 1964, and earned a Bachelor in Business Administration from Wichita State...
James Douglas Watkins (Doug)
Feb 1, 2026
James Douglas “Doug” Watkins passed away at home on February 1, 2026, surrounded by family members, at the age of 82. He will be greatly missed for his sense of humor and love for his family.
Doug was born in Kansas City, MO to Mr. and Mrs. James G. Watkins on October 30, 1943. He attended Baker University, where he enjoyed...
Tracy Welch Tebbs
Feb 1, 2026
My beloved father, Dr. Tracy Welch Tebbs, has completed his earthly life at the age of 65 on February 1st, 2026. He passed unexpectedly at home with his daughter, Blake Emily Tebbs Dingman and son in law Johnathan Gregory Dingman, surrounding him. He has now joined my sweet mother, Janelle Kay Morlock Tebbs (deceased), and other loved ones celebrating their...
Patsy Ann Smith
Jan 31, 2026
Patsy Ann Smith was born on April 17, 1952, in Tyronza, Arkansas, to Jewell and Janie Marks. She passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, on January 31, 2026, at the age of 73.
Patsy was a loving and spiritual soul who found joy in researching her ancestry, caring for animals, and her work at the Mid-Continent Public Library. She was...
Elizabeth Swanson Wornall
Jan 30, 2026
Elizabeth Swanson Wornall, 58, passed away peacefully on Friday Jan 30th, 2026 at her home in Prairie Village, KS after a lifelong struggle with cerebral palsy.
A native daughter of Kansas City, Elizabeth was born on July 14, 1967 to James Frederick Wornall and Susan (Kuder) Wornall at University of Kansas Medical Center and was a direct descendant of John B....
Kylee Ann Chestnut
Jan 29, 2026
Kylee Ann Chestnut, 20, of Gardner, passed away January 29, 2026, one day after she was baptized. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions are suggested to Children’s Mercy Medical Centers.
Kylee was born on September 30, 2005, in Salina, Kansas, and was a 2024 graduate of Gardner-Edgerton High School. Kylee was always smiling...
Margot Ann Heilman
Jan 29, 2026
Margot A. Rumsey Heilman was born 22 September 1936 in Lansing, Leavenworth, Kansas to E.C. (Al) Rumsey and Helen Margaret Smith Rumsey, both originally from Kansas. Margot had an older brother, Charles Robert, a younger sister, Rebie Esther, and a younger brother, David Elven. The Rumsey family moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1948 where her dad began the Cut...
Charlyne D. Joslin
Jan 29, 2026
Charlyne D. (Wyant) Joslin, 97, passed away January 29, 2026, at the Kansas City Hospice House.
Charlyne was born on October 27, 1928, in Ree Heights, SD to Bruce Rigdom Wyant and Minnie Marie (Anderson) Wyant. She grew up in Maskell, NE besides a short time living in Leavenworth, WA. Her father, a blacksmith, passed away when she was 11. She...
Susan Marie Kemmerer
Jan 29, 2026
Susan Marie Dube Kemmerer was called home to be with the Lord on Thursday, January 29th.
Susan was born in Faribault, MN on June 3 ,1949 to her parents Joan Payant McLane and Donald Dube. Her parents were divorced when Susan was quite young and she was raised by her mother along with her brother, David, in the home of their...
Jeanne Ann Patton
Jan 28, 2026
Jeanne Ann (Abler) Patton, 75, of Overland Park, passed away January 28, 2026.
Jeanne was born on January 9, 1951 in Norfolk, Nebraska, to Leonard and Collette (Meyer) Abler. She married James E. Patton on January 13, 1975. Together they lived in several different states before finally retiring to Overland Park, Kansas.
Jeanne’s bright smile and contagious laughter drew others to her,...
George E. Robertson
Jan 28, 2026
George Earnshaw Robertson passed away peacefully on January 28th 2026, with his loving wife Shirley by his side. George was born October 16th 1931, in Weatherford, Oklahoma, where he grew up on the family farm with two older sisters.
He received a degree in economics from Oklahoma University. He married his college sweetheart, Shirley Ann Padgett in 1953. They began a...
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