Cynthia Gail "Cindy" Elefson (Jinkins)

Cynthia Gail (Jinkins) Elefson, 64, of Buckner, MO went to be with her Savior, Jesus Christ, on January 17, 2022.

Cynthia (or Cindy, to those outside her family) was born to Robert Jinkins and Betty (Jinkins) Lamb on June 7, 1957 at Harrisonville, MO. She was raised in Blue Springs, MO graduating from Blue Springs High School in 1975.

Cindy was a life-long member of Jesus Christ’s Restored Church having been baptized at the age of 9 at the Blue Springs RLDS congregation. She was attending the Church of Jesus Christ – Living Hope Restoration Branch at the time of her passing. She had a quiet and gentle faith in Christ that was never advertised but, from time to time, she would share with Dwight the fruition of her prayers.

She married Dwight Elefson on August 12, 1978. After living in Lee’s Summit for a year in a trailer home they purchased, they packed up the trailer and moved to Columbia, MO where they lived on the University of Missouri sheep research farm. She chose to work for the university in their employee insurance department while Dwight worked on the farm part time and finished school.

In 1981 she moved to Richmond, MO where, shortly after arrival, they welcomed a different sort of arrival, Joshua, making the family three. Jason soon made it four. The time in Richmond brought several life-long friends and created fond memories for Cindy. She mentioned a couple of times over the years that it might be nice to move back there.

In 1987, she and the family moved to Independence, MO where, just like at Richmond, another addition came in less than 30 days when Jordon completed the family. She resided several places here and it is where her final home was on the far east edge of town. She and Dwight had finally found their dream place. While in Independence, she worked several places with the more substantial being several years at Hope Christian (Day) School, OOIDA, Osage Trails Middle school, as the Kitchen Manager, and finally various positions for the United States Post Office in their Stamp Fulfillment facility. At the USPS, especially, she garnered a reputation of being a diligent and reliable worker that created a deep appreciation for her in the various departments she worked in.

She was a quiet person who shunned the limelight or being the center of attention. Yet, she would work in the background on many things, especially in kitchens. She loved to cook and bake and was constantly tweaking her recipes to see if she could make them better. She became famous in various circles for her cinnamon rolls and light rolls with people regularly requesting them and some even buying them.

Another love of hers was babies. She had a natural way with them. Many times, she would pick up a fussy baby and before long, it would be sound asleep in her arms while she could contentedly hold them for hours. She also loved animals and had many over the years. At the last, she had accumulated two cats, two Great Pyrenes dogs, and three horses all which she constantly doted over.

But her ultimate love was family. She was raised in a large extended family with many cousins and thoroughly enjoyed the regular weekend visits to Grandma’s house in the big town of Weaubleau, MO where the house would be overflowing with aunts, uncles, and cousins all laughing and talking and enjoying each other’s company.

Cindy loved and cherished her family. She leaves behind her husband of 43 years, Dwight; Three sons and their wives – Joshua Reed and Emili, Jason Palmer and Rachel, and Jordon Daniel and Cassie. She also had to leave her adored grandchildren – Karli, Joeli, Levi, and Eli (Josh & Emili), Hudson and Coen (Jason & Rachel), and Owen (Jordon & Cassie). Oh, how she loved her grandchildren.
Additionally, she is survived by her mother, Betty Lamb; sister, Connie Martin and husband Jim; brother, Mark Jinkins and wife Beth; brother-in-law, Alan Elefson and wife, Denise; sister-in-law, Rhonda Schmidt; and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins both by blood and by marriage. All loved – all cared about. We all deeply miss you.