Hale Gene Dexter

Hale Gene Dexter 87, Lees Summit, MO
Passed March 8, 2022, in his home of natural causes.
Born December 29, 1934, at a home in Independence, MO to Hale Fredrick Dexter and Gertrude Elizabeth (Sisk) Dexter.
Gene graduated from William Chrisman High School in 1952. He held a bachelor’s degree in Education, a master’s degree in Counseling and a Ph.D. in Guidance and Counseling from UMKC.
On August 19, 1956, Gene married Norma Ann (Cranmer) in Independence at the Liberty Street Congregation of the RLDS Church and loved Norma for over 65 years.
Dexter spent 18 years in the Kansas City School District. He taught at Van Horn, served as the first coordinator of the KCSD Neighborhood Youth Corps, served as a guidance counselor at East, Central and Paseo High Schools and Vice Principal at Paseo. In 2019, Van Horn High School honored him by creating the H. Gene Dexter Prize for Excellence in Teaching and was inducted into the Van Horn Hall of Honor. He was hired by the Blue Springs School district where he served for 21 years serving as Assistant and Deputy Superintendent. He was chosen Blue Springs Citizen of the Year in 1983. He was most proud of his success in bond and levy campaigns.
Dexter was commissioned in 1956 as a Second Lieutenant of Engineers in the Missouri Army National Guard. Graduating from the U.S. Army Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced Courses at Fort Belvoir, VA, and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS, he rose through the ranks to command the 110th Engineer Battalion of the 35th Infantry Division. He later developed the Missouri Guard’s Sergeants Major Academy and served as that institution’s founding commandant for many years. His last position was the Missouri National Guard Inspector General. He retired in 1982 as a colonel.
He is survived by his wife Norma Ann Dexter, a son Norman Dexter and his wife Karen Dexter of Lee’s Summit, a daughter Elizabeth Dexter-Manade, 3 granddaughters: Sydney Dexter of Kansas City, Morgan Manade of Blue Springs and Danielle Marston of Charlotte, NC, and one grandson, Coleson Manade of Blue Springs. Gene loved his family and served as a patriarch to many of his extended family members.
A Celebration of Life for Hale Gene Dexter will be held April 23, 2022. The Visitation will be held at 2pm followed by his Celebration of Life at 3pm at Speaks Suburban Chapel 18020 E 39th St S, Independence, Missouri, 64055.
In memory of Gene Dexter, donations may be made to the H. Gene Dexter Prize for Excellence in Teaching at Van Horn H.S.
Please make checks payable to ISD Foundation memo: H. Gene Dexter. Mail donations to the ISD Foundation 201 N Forest Ave Independence, MO 64050