A feisty fighter to the end, Leona May "Lea" (Abernathey) Widick, 83, passed away on August 31, 2026. In her final weeks, she was surrounded in her Independence condo by her children, grandchildren and extended family. Born on October 9, 1942, in Independence, Missouri, she was the daughter of the late Johnnie Frank and Frona Lucille (Williamson) Abernathey.

Lea grew up in Independence and attended William Chrisman High School with the class of 1960. A woman of unstoppable drive and determination, she later earned her GED, which served as the foundation for a remarkable and successful entrepreneurial career.

A tireless worker and natural businesswoman, Lea left a significant mark on Eastern Jackson County. Without any formal college experience, she built her career from the ground up, starting with a beauty shop in her basement on West 30th Street in Independence. Through hard work and dedication, she eventually expanded her enterprise to three local salons. Her business acumen later led her to become a part-owner of Visual Impact Signs in Kansas City. Ultimately, she purchased All Seasons Campers, moving the business to Blue Springs and successfully growing the RV business until its sale and her well-earned retirement in 1995.

During the slower winter months in the RV business, Lea and her family sold Christmas trees at their business location on 40 Highway west of Noland Road. Lea was deeply respected in her community, known as a boss her employees genuinely wanted to work for and an owner her customers knew they could trust.

In 1958, Lea married Joel Bourke Powell. In 1964, she married James Raymond Widick. Beyond her professional achievements, Lea’s greatest joy in life was her family. She cherished time spent traveling and relaxing with those she loved. First, she owned property in Longboat Key, Fla. Over the years, family gatherings shifted to Siesta Key, Fla. There, Lea, her children, grandchildren, extended family, and friends spent annual vacations enjoying the beach, sharing seafood meals, and having long, memorable conversations in the condo.

Lea was preceded in death by her parents, John and Lucille Abernathey, and her older brother, Myron "Mike" Abernathey.

She leaves a beautiful legacy and is survived by her brother, Marvin (Donna) Abernathey; her sister-in-law, Sally Abernathey; her three children, Pamela (Whitney) Huff, Kathy (Max) Kesner, and James Darrin (Susan) Widick; her six grandchildren: Melynda Marchael (Wade) Meredith, James Andrew (Anne) Marchael, Ryan Kesner (Amanda Dunning), Justin (Lana) Kesner, Abbey Widick (Sean) Moise, and Allie Widick (Matt Huskey); and great grandchildren Rory Elliott Meredith, Thomas Meredith, Ella Kesner and Easton Kesner.

Services will be held on September 12th at Carson-Speaks Chapel, 1501 W Lexington Ave., Independence. Visitation will begin at 10am with memorial service to follow at 11am. The family suggests contributions to the Widick and Appleberry Family Fund at the Truman Heartland Community Foundation for a contribution to young mothers looking to advance their education in a two-year, four-year, or technical certification program.