Henry K. Inouye, Jr.

Henry K. Inouye Jr., 75, of Independence, MO, passed away Sunday May 23, 2004 at his home in Independence. Services will be 10:00am Saturday, May 29th at Speaks Suburban Chapel. Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the service. Henry was born September 21, 1928 in Independence, MO to Henry and Emily (DeTray) Inouye. After high school, he served in the Navy during WWII. Henry married Helen Amundson in 1949 and later moved to Hawaii, where he and his wife raised 3 daughters. He operated an advertising and public relations agency in Honolulu prior to moving back to Missouri in 1980. Henry successfully combined a career in art with religious studies. He studied at Graceland College, Kansas City Art Institute and the Art Center in Los Angeles, and received a BA in art history and fine arts from the University of Hawaii. Later he earned a master�s degree in religion from the Claremont School of Theology in California. A published author, Henry wrote Roy Cheville: Explorer of Spiritual Frontiers, as well as essays in Restoration Studies V, VI, and IX, Restoration Witness Magazine and Theology Colloquy. He was an Elder and member of the Community of Christ Cornerstone congregation. Henry was a member of the Mormon History Association, John Whitmer Historial Association, and the Missouri Mormon Frontier Foundation. He combined extensive research with a unique artistic style to create historical illustrations and narrative of events which occurred throughout local church history. A series of his portraits are featured at the Kirtland Temple Historic Center. He also designed the plaques that mark the Mormon Walking Tour in Independence. Very active in his community, he served as President of the Santa Fe Trail Neighborhood Community Development Corporation (SFTNCDC). Together with a team of other committed residents, he accomplished many projects dedicated to the revitalization of this older area of Independence. Crime prevention, youth programs, home rehabilitation, and a planned senior housing project are the focus of the ongoing efforts of the SFTNCDC. Henry expressed his artistic style through landscape gardening, twice earning a City of Independence Beautification Award for his home in the Santa Fe Trail neighborhood. Henry is survived by his wife Helen, 3 daughters (Patti Franks of Wailuku, HI, Cindy Mendelsohn of Independence, MO, and Lori Shern of Belton, MO) 15 grandchildren, a sister Nadine Harbottle of Kaneohe, HI and a brother Donald Inouye of Hilo, HI.