Judge John E. "Jack" Gant

The Honorable Judge Jack E. Gant, 90, of Independence, MO passed away December 23, 2018 at home surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm, Saturday, January 5, 2019 at First Baptist Church Blue Springs, 4500 Little Blue Parkway, Independence, MO 64057. The visitation will be Friday, January 4, 2019, 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the First Baptist Church Blue Springs. Private burial in Oakland Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made in care of UMKC Law Foundation (Judge Jack E. Gant Scholarship) 500 E. 52nd Street, Kansas City, MO 64110 or https://law.umkc.edu/jackgantscholarship .
Judge Gant graduated from Northeast High School in 1945. He served in the U.S. Marine Corp from 1946-1948. He married the love of his life, Beverly Kirkham, September 9, 1951. Jack received his college degree in 1951 from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He received his law degree from UMKC in 1954. After law school, he worked as a prosecutor from 1956-1960. Judge Gant was an attorney in private practice from 1955-1976, and was a partner in the law firm of Gant, Jolley, Moran, Walsh, Hager and Gordon. He served in the Missouri General Assembly as a Senator from 1966 to 1976. Jack was appointed to the bench December 17, 1976 by Governor Christopher S. Bond. Judge Gant was presiding Judge of the Jackson County Circuit Court, 1991-1992. He retired 21 years later and continued as a Senior Judge. Jack was a member of the Mt. Washington Methodist Church.
Judge Gant loved his sports especially coaching and watching his family play. He loved his family, friends and community. Jack devoted his life to serving. He once said, “The real quality of life comes as you give it in service to others.”
Judge Gant will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 67 years, Beverly, his children Terry and husband Karl, John, Marcy and husband Warren, Larry and wife Kyla, and Tim and wife Melissa; his grandchildren Niki and husband Cody, Aimee and husband Jacob, Jennifer and husband Nick, Jared and wife Sarah, Whitney, Eric, Lauren and husband Eric, Ryan and wife Sarah, Eric, Jolie, and Dustie and his 8 great- grandchildren