Obituaries
Levita Benson (Smith)
Mar 16, 2023
Eva Levita Smith Benson 90, of Independence Missouri passed away on March 16, 2023. Levita was born May 13, 1932 in Pensacola, Florida to Evamae and Rembert Smith. Levita moved to St. Louis, Missouri at the age of 16 to live with her Aunt Lila and Uncle Tom Gough who she treasured as Mom and Pop. Levita attended Graceland College...
Lorene Harris Fuller
Mar 15, 2023
Lorene H. Fuller, 96, of Independence, MO, and formerly of Mayfield, KY, passed away peacefully Wednesday, March 15th, 2023, at her home with her family at her bedside. Mrs. Fuller was born in Lynnville, KY on June 13th, 1926, to John Marian and Vivian Mae (Harrison) Harris. She married the love of her life L. Sylvester Fuller on March 13th,...
Lois Marlene Church (Atkins)
Mar 14, 2023
Early in the morning on March 14, 2023, Lois Marlene "Marty" Atkins Church ran joyfully into the loving arms of Jesus with a clear mind and a new body. She was born in Kingsport, Tennessee on May 27, 1943. She graduated with a degree in English from East Tennessee State University. She was an only child but was very close...
James Clyde "Jim" Mcmillin
Mar 14, 2023
James “Jim” Clyde McMillin, 73, passed away on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at Kindred Hospital North. Jim was born on August 31, 1949, in Sibley, MO, to James “JC” Charles McMillin and Eva Eulayla Todd. He was raised on the farm in a loving household, spoiled by his parents and four older sisters. He graduated from Ft. Osage High School...
Fannie K. "Fran" Cresswell
Mar 14, 2023
Fannie K. “Fran” Cresswell, 96, of Independence, MO, passed away on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. A visitation will be held from 10:00-10:30am with Rosary at 10:30am, followed by a prayer service at 11am on Friday, March 17th at Carson-Speaks Chapel, 1501 W Lexington Ave.; Independence, MO 64052. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Raytown, MO. Fannie was born...
Alma James Houston
Mar 14, 2023
Alma James Houston, 78 of Sibley, Mo passed away Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at his residence. A private graveside service and burial was held in Swan Lake Memorial Gardens. A memorial services will be at Oak Grove Restoration Branch on March 25, 2023 at 10am. Alma was born on November 12, 1944 on a farm in Toledo, Iowa the youngest...
Mary Elizabeth Phelps (Herod)
Mar 12, 2023
Mary Elizabeth (Herod) Phelps was born on July 27, 1942, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She was the third of three children born to Joseph and Vera (Reddin) Herod. Her family gathered to Independence, Missouri in 1946 from Oklahoma. She attended school in Independence, Missouri, and graduated from William Chrisman High School in 1960. She received her associate degree in secretarial...
Mary "Eileen" Wilcox (Deutschmann)
Mar 12, 2023
Mary Eileen Wilcox, 96, of Blue Springs, MO, died Sunday, March 12, 2023. Eileen was born July 21, 1926 in Albert Lea, MN, to George and Margaret (Logue) Deutschman. After high school in Minnesota, Eileen attended the University of Kansas where she was a member of the Sigma Kappa sorority and the Jay Janes spirit group. She also studied at...
Helen Irene "Irene" Young (Fender)
Mar 8, 2023
Helen Irene (Fender Harp) Young, 87, of Holts Summit, MO, formerly of Independence, MO passed away Wednesday, March 8, 2023 at her residence. A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Monday, March 20, 2023 at the Mound Grove Cemetery in Independence. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in her name to Mid America Transplant, 1110 Highlands...
Branden Dean Agnew
Mar 8, 2023
Branden Dean Agnew, 24, of Kansas City, MO passed away March 8, 2023, in his home. Branden enjoyed playing Xbox, skateboarding, bowling, and playing pool with cousins and friends. Branden was born on April 20, 1998, at North Kansas City, MO hospital to Billy Dean and Denisa Lynn Agnew. After graduating from Liberty Senior High School, Branden has worked three...
Veronica R. Baker
Mar 7, 2023
Veronica Baker, 98, of Independence, MO passed away March 7, 2023. Visitation will be from 9-10am, with service to follow at 10am, Saturday, March 18, 2023, at Carson-Speaks Chapel. Burial will take place in Mound Grove Cemetery. Veronica was born on August 7, 1924, in Defiance, IA to Nicholas and Elizabeth (VonTersch) Majerus. On May 9, 1942, Veronica married the...
Mary Alice Evans
Mar 6, 2023
Mary Alice Evans passed away following a brief final illness on March 6, 2023, near her home in Independence, MO. Mary Alice, or M.A. as she was known to many of her loved ones, was born on April 11, 1942 in Alton, IL, to Alice (Rowden) Crivello and Anthony Crivello. She graduated in 1960 from Marquette Catholic High School in...
Waif "Frank" Hollis
Mar 5, 2023
Waif Frank “Short” Hollis, age 76 of Independence MO was born August 19, 1946 in Oregon County MO and passed away March 5, 2023 in his home. Survivors include his children Michael Hollis, Tamara Hollis, LeAnn Hollis and Stacey Hollis and his cat Katie of the Kansas City Metro Area. His Sister Francis Hollis of Oregon County MO and numerous...
Samra Lynn Magruder (Clark)
Mar 5, 2023
Samra Lynn (Clark) Magruder was born on September 2, 1956 in Marshalltown, Iowa to Samuel George Clark and Beverly Joan (Strayer) Clark. She graduated from Ames High School in 1974, and graduated from Graceland College (University) in 1978 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. While at Graceland she spent one summer as an Historical Interpreter at Nauvoo, Illinois, an historic...
Patricia Griffith
Mar 5, 2023
Patricia Ann Griffith, 77 of Slater, MO passed away Sunday, March 5, 2023 at Big Bend Retreat. Funeral service will be 2:00pm Friday, March 10, 2023 at Speaks Suburban Chapel, 18020 E. 39th St., Independence, MO 64055. Burial will follow in Buckner Hill Cemetery. The family will greet friends from 1:00 p.m., until service time Friday at the chapel. Donations...
Kenneth Kerley
Mar 3, 2023
Kenneth Leroy Kerley, 83, passed away on Friday March 3, 2023, at St Luke’s East Hospital. He was born on August 19, 1939, in Roscoe, MO to Harry Roy and Ila (Rickman) Kerley. Kenneth was an avid royals and chiefs fan. He worked as a vending supervisor for the Royals Stadium for over 35 years and adored that job. Kenneth...
Alex Ray Espinal
Mar 2, 2023
Alex Ray Espinal was born on June 21st, 2016 at North Kansas City Hospital in Missouri to Kalee Krisman-Burnett and Santos Espinal. He was a bright shining light for six precious years before passing away from an acute asthma attack on March 2nd, 2023. Alex loved Sonic the Hedgehog, Mario Bros, Pokemon, IHOP's blue pancakes, and Starbucks' cake pops. But...
Lavone Russell (Meggers)
Mar 1, 2023
LaVone Russell of Independence, Missouri passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 1, 2023. One month after her 100th birthday. She was born to Henry and Maude Meggers in Independence, Missouri. LaVone was brought up in a dedicated family for the Lord. With such dedication to church that lasted a lifetime. Much of her life was spent traveling, a favorite pastime....
Levera Knoche
Feb 28, 2023
Levera Olinda Knoche, 94, of Independence, MO, passed away on Tuesday February 28. 2023. She was born on May 26, 1928, in Napoleon, MO to August and Olga (Siefker) Knoche. Levera graduated Levasy Missouri High School in 1947 and after worked a few jobs until finding her passion as a nurse’s aide at St. Luke’s Hospital, where she went on...
Carisa L. Rose Cairns
Feb 27, 2023
Carisa Rose Cairns, 47, of Independence, MO lost her life on February 27, 2023, after a lifelong struggle with depression. She is survived by her mother, Laura Mangnall; stepfather, Tom Mangnall; husband, Brad Cairns; father-in-law Joe Cairns; her sisters, Kerri Nichols and Kelsey Mangnall; and her children Ryan, Brayden, Mason, and Elliot. Carisa was born on August 27, 1975, in...
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