Kenneth A. Morford

Kenneth A Morford, 103, Simi Valley, CA, formerly of Independence, died Feb. 7, 2007.
He was born July 19, 1903 in Gordon, Sheridan County, NE. His family then moved to Lamoni, Iowa in 1907. Due to his mother�s health problems they then moved to Missouri�s Ozarks in 1910, and then to Independence in 1916, where he graduated from William Chrisman High School in 1920. Kenneth learned the printer�s trade at Herald Publishing House and became an employee of the Independence Examiner newspaper in 1923 where he worked for 21 years. He purchased the Van Horn Place, a drug and sundry store in 1942 and operated it for 17 years. He then returned to the newspaper business and retired from the Kansas City Star on his 70th birthday on 1973.
Kenneth married Margaret Harrington in 1926 and she passed away on Sept. 26, 1983. He then married Opal W. Morford, the widow of his brother, Darrell, on Nov. 18, 1984.
Kenneth was also preceded in death by daughters Margaret Marilyn Morford in 1992 and Virginia Sader in 2001; grandson Thomas Pederson in 2000; sister Audrey Stubbart; and brothers Rexford and Darrell Morford. He is survived by his wife Opal, Simi Valley, CA; daughters Betty Grant, Independence, MO; Audrey Pederson, Odessa, TX; son Kenneth A. Morford, Jr., Oak Grove, MO; step-daughter Marilyn Burnham, Simi Valley, CA; step-son Galen Dirks, Aurora, TX; ten grandchildren; twenty-two great-grandchildren; eight step-grandchildren and their families.
He loved his family and appreciated their visits, especially those of the eleven step-great-grandchildren living nearby who called him "Poppi�.
He was a faithful member of the Community of Christ where he served as an elder for many years and was much loved by congregations both in Independence and Simi Valley. He enjoyed music, especially the old hymns and sang with the Messiah Choir in Independence for a number of years. He was a member of the Lions Club in Independence and later in Simi Valley, CA for a total of forty years. He was active with the Lions Club until this past Nov. when his heath problems prevented him from attending.
Services will be 10 am, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2007 at Speaks Suburban Chapel; private interment at Mound Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to service time at the funeral home.