Obituaries
Florence Esta Evans
Dec 18, 2025
Florence E. Evans, age 98, passed away peacefully on December 18, 2025. She was born on November 22, 1927, in Buffalo, Missouri.
Florence attended Southwest Missouri State University for one year before teaching in a one-room schoolhouse for a year. On February 8, 1941, she married Robert "Bob" R. Evans in Arkansas. Together they built a life rooted in faith,...
Woodrow (Woody) Howell
Dec 16, 2025
Woodrow T. Howell
August 6, 1952 – December 16, 2025
Son of Jack Lightner Howell and Anna Louise (Payne) Howell, Woody was born in Independence Missouri. He is survived by his wife Marsha Howell and son Paul E Howell (June Ann) and granddaughter Anna Sue Alice Howell, his true love of life.
He is also survived by his sisters, Marilyn D. Danko and...
Brian Francis Middleton
Dec 13, 2025
Brian Francis Middleton of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away on Saturday, December 13, 2025. He was 65 years old. Brian was born on January 7, 1960 in Kansas City, Missouri, the second child of Helen and Bob Middleton. He had five siblings: Robin, Scott, Kirk, Heather, and Robin Renee.
After graduating from Blue Springs High School in 1978, he joined the...
Nina Joan Calvert
Dec 13, 2025
Nina Joan (Phipps) Calvert
Joan Calvert passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 13, 2025, surrounded by her family at Centerpoint Medical Center in Independence, MO. She was 93 years old.
Joan was born on October 10, 1932, to William and Nina Phipps in rural Barton County, MO. She was the eldest of five children. Joan graduated salutatorian from Lamar High School in...
Kenneth John Munsterman
Dec 12, 2025
Kenneth Munsterman passed away peacefully on December 12, 2025. Ken was born on September 18th, 1942 in Montrose, Missouri to Fred and Josephine (Cook) Munsterman.
He married Beverly Cornell and to this union were born four children.
Kenneth was a long-time Western Electric/Lucent Technologies/AT&T employee before retiring to be a full-time loving husband and Father/Grandfather.
He was preceded in death by his loving...
Mae Carol Stathas
Dec 10, 2025
Mae Carol Stathas, a beloved mother, grandmother, sister and friend, passed away peacefully on December 10, 2025, in Shawnee, Kansas, surrounded by love. Born on July 22, 1937, in St. Joseph, Missouri, Mae grew up to embody a spirit of kindness and warmth that she shared with everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.
Throughout her life, Mae demonstrated an...
Edward L. Mueller, Jr.
Dec 9, 2025
Edward L. "Ed" Mueller, Jr., age 70 years, of Independence, Missouri, passed away on Tuesday, December 9, 2025. Services for Ed will be private.
Georgia Mae Milam
Dec 9, 2025
Georgia Mae Milam, 91, of Independence, MO passed away peacefully at home on December 9th, 2025. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Kenneth M. Milam, and son Brian K. Milam. She is survived by her son Richard Milam, his wife Sherri, siblings, Dot Chadwick, Jean Hinken, and Bill Lawson, her long-time companion John Hupman, and her treasured...
Jessie May Borland
Dec 8, 2025
Jessie May Borland passed away peacefully on December 8, 2025 at home. Jessie was born May 26,1939 to Arthur and Dorothea Stewart.
She attended Central High School in Kansas City Missouri and graduated in 1957.
She married Jimmie Lane Borland Sr on August 30, 1958, and to this union were born 2 children Jimmie Jr in 1966 and Jan in 1967.
Jessie was...
Carol Ann Zelk
Dec 7, 2025
Carol Ann (Miller) Zelk, 2/5/35 - Independence, MO, 12/7/25 - Independence, MO. Worked as an executive assistant for the Council of Twelve at the Community of Christ Church for 17 years in Independence, MO. Served as an officer in the Young Matrons, Independence Hospital Auxiliary, Community Service League, American Red Cross Eastern Jackson County Board, Board of Directors of her...
Judy Kay Franks
Dec 6, 2025
Judy Kay (Carlton) Franks, 81, of Buckner, MO passed away on December 6, 2025, at the Blue Springs Wellness Center. A visitation will be held from 10-11am on Friday, December 12th at the First Baptist Church of Buckner. Her funeral service will begin at 11am with burial to follow at Buckner Hill Cemetery.
Judy was born on September 16, 1944, in...
Richard Lee Bennett
Dec 6, 2025
Richard Lee Bennett passed away peacefully at the age of 88 on December 6, 2025. He was born in Trenton MO on Aug 22, 1937, to Russell Bennett and Florence Campbell Bennett. Although the family moved to Kansas City when Richard was young, he always considered Trenton his home.
Richard graduated from Blue Springs High School in 1954 and immediately enlisted...
Kathie Anne Jordan
Dec 5, 2025
Kathie was born to Alice (1919–1966) and Charles (1917–1985) on March 13, 1946, in New York City. She grew up in the city with her sister Joanne and her close friend Linda (1946–2025). She spent summers in Connecticut working as a camp counselor. Kathie attended the High School of Art and Design, but before graduating, her father was reassigned in...
Donna Rae Skouse
Dec 4, 2025
Our beloved wife, mom, and grandma passed away peacefully at home on December 4, 2025, surrounded by her family. Donna was a naturally loving and gracious woman who devoted her life to caring for others. From her family to her patients, her friends to her church community—and even perfect strangers—if someone needed nurturing, Donna was there.
Donna was born on June...
Bryon LeRoy Coatney
Dec 4, 2025
Bryon LeRoy Coatney, 60, of Buckner, Missouri, passed away on December 4th 2025. He was born on May 6, 1965, and lived a life full of passion, generosity, and unshakeable joy.
Bryon was a talented musician whose first love was always music. He grew up in a family of musicians and went on to become a proud member of the well-known...
Onetiario Netti Coats
Dec 3, 2025
Onetiario “Netti” Falemai Ah-Loe Coats passed away on December 3, 2025. She was born on July 20, 1954, in American Samoa to Falemai and Maggie (Te’o) Ah-Loe.
Netti graduated from Mission High School in 1972. She married Ben Fomai in September 1978, and together they welcomed one son, Ben Faga Fomai, Jr.
During her years in San Francisco and American Samoa, Netti...
Leah Ruth Gibson
Dec 3, 2025
Leah Ruth came as a surprise to her family and was loved immediately. Her mom grew her for nine months, and they were filled with kisses from her daddy, squishes from her big sister and rubs from her whole family. Leah Ruth, born sleeping on December 3rd, 2025, will be loved eternally.
Leah Ruth, mommy, daddy and Rachel want you to...
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