Marjorie I. Croy
Sept. 29, 1923 – June 17, 2020
Marjorie Inez Croy, 96, Raymore, died June 17 at Research Medical Center in Kansas City. Funeral services were June 23 at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville. Burial was in Wills Cemetery in Peculiar. Memorial contributions may be made to Children’s Mercy Hospital.
Marjorie was born Sept. 29, 1923, in Maysville, the daughter of John Leroy and Ruth (Brown) Scott.
She graduated from Clarksdale High School at age 15 and received her bachelor’s degree in education at age 18 from the University of Missouri.
Marjorie married Loyd W. Croy April 10, 1943. Marjorie had lived in Kansas City before moving to Peculiar in 1976. She moved to Raymore in 2013.
She worked as an executive secretary for the administrator of Children’s Mercy Hospital for 25 years. She had also taught school and was a den mother.
She was a 50-year member of the East Gate Eastern Star and served on the Resident Association at Foxwood Springs.
Marjorie was an active member of the Peculiar United Methodist Church for more than 40 years.
She was preceded in death by her par-ents; her brother, John Scott; and her husband, Loyd, July 25, 1996.
She is survived by a son, Jerry Croy, Kansas City; a daughter, Betty Cantrell, Peculiar; a sister, Evelyn Lancaster, Peculiar; four grandchildren, John Cantrell, Dawn Croy, Jeff Cantrell and Scott Croy; five great-grandchildren, Jake Cantrell, Jaymee (Cantrell) Lakey, Evan Croy, Lucas Croy and Reid Cantrell; and two great-great-grandchildren, Bodie Cantrell and Frankie Cantrell.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville.
Deborah L. Hembree
March 3, 1963 – June 14, 2020
Deborah “Debbie” Lynne Hembree, Garden City, was born March 3, 1963, in Kansas City, the daughter of Junior Ray “J.R.” and Barbara Jean (Boothe) Hatman.
She died June 14 at the Belton Regional Medical Center, Belton, at the age of 57 years, 3 months and 11 days.
March 28, 1989, Debbie married Selden Gene Hembree in Harrisonville.
Debbie was employed as an office manager for Wolfe Automotive Group, Lee’s Summit. She enjoyed boat racing and rock crawling in her Jeep. She was a homebody and loved spending time on the farm, planting and growing flowers in her flower beds.
She was preceded in death by her father-in-law, Selden Hembree and mother-in-law, Wanda Hembree.
Debbie is survived by her husband, Selden G. Hembree, of the home; two sons, Scott Hembree, Belton, and Chad Hembree, Garden City; a daughter, Karissa Marr and husband, Travis, Peculiar; three grandchildren, Taylor, Dylan and John Russell; her parents, J.R. and Barb Hatman, Harrisonville; three brothers, Bob Hatman and wife, Colleen, Troy, New York, Harold Hatman and wife, Tammy, Archie, and John Hatman and wife, Heather, Nixa; several nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.
Cremation. A celebration of life service was June 20 at the Cornerstone Community Church, Harrisonville.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the National Pancreas Foundation or to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville.
Elli Rose Parham
June 16, 2020 – June 16, 2020
Elli Rose Parham, infant daughter of Dustin and Rebecca Parham, Lee’s Summit, died June 16 at St. Luke’s East Hospital in Lee’s Summit.
A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. June 28 at the Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville, with visitation from 10 to 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Children’s Mercy Hospital at https://www.childrensmercy.org/ways-to-give .
Elli Rose was born June 16, 2020, in Lee’s Summit.
She is survived by her parents, Dustin Roe and Rebecca Lynn (Sexton) Parham and a sister, Dezi Mae Parham, all of the home in Lee’s Summit; maternal grandparents, Bret and Gail Sexton, Harrisonville; paternal grandparents, Jeff and Wanda Parham, Harrisonville; paternal grandmother, Sherri Parham, St. Petersburg, Florida; maternal great-grandparents, Don and Lorna Douglas, Fordland, and Jack and Nancy Sexton, Silverton, Oregon; and paternal great-grandparents, Don and Pat Parham, Osage Beach; along with her three uncles, four aunts and nine cousins.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville.
Dorothy L. Smith
July 4, 1927 – June 12, 2020
Dorothy L. Smith was born July 4, 1927, in Clinton, the daughter of Orville and Clara Kelley Box. She died June 12 at Crown Care Center in Harrisonville.
In her 92 years, Dorothy had a rich and full life. She grew up with her parents and sister in Calhoun.
She attended Calhoun High School, graduating in 1945. Mutual friends introduced her to Bobby Lee Smith and they were married Nov. 7, 1953, in Calhoun.
Bobby and Dorothy were blessed with 59 years of marriage and the birth of three children, Gary Lee, Donna Jo and Danny Ray.
The Smiths raised their family in Urich. Dorothy worked at Western Electric in Lee’s Summit for 22 years, retiring in 1983.
Dorothy was a doting grandmother and enjoyed any time spent with her family.
She was a member of the Urich Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Marjorie; an infant son; and in 2012 her husband, Bobby; and son, Danny.
She is survived by a son, Gary L. Smith, Clinton; a daughter, Donna Shipley and husband, Martin, Drexel; a daughter-in-law, Linda Smith, Garden City; six grandchildren, Denise Bennett and her husband, Gregg, Louisville, Kentucky, Kevin Smith, Belton, Ashley Cook-Hartsell and husband, Nick, Garden City, Tanner Shipley, Drexel, Whitney Smith, Archie, and Keifer Shipley, of Farlington, Kansas; six great-grandchildren, Cooper, Natalie and Jackson Bennett, Kayden Smith, Addilynn Seachrest and Keaghan Hartsell; other relatives and friends.
Dorothy will be remembered for her ready, radiant smile, her twinkling eyes and her laughter. She was a loving wife, the best mother and amazing grandmother.
Funeral services were June 17 at the Dickey Funeral Home, Garden City, with cremation following the service.
The family suggests memorial contributions to the Clinton Animal Shelter, Clinton.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Dickey Funeral Home, Garden City.
Jim Whistle
Nov. 1944 – June 16, 2020
Jim died June 16 surrounded by his family. Jim was born in Caraway, Arkansas, in November 1944. Jim spent his childhood with his grandparents, Otto and Margaret.
Jim learned the value of hard work, “at a very young age,” working in the family business and on local farms.
Jim began working in the concrete industry in 1963 Jim founded Whistle Redi-Mix in 1987 Whistle Redi-Mix currently operates four locations. The family intends to continue Jim’s legacy, operating the business while upholding the values instilled by their father.
Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Kristina Whistle; and his parents, Bob Whistle and Floyce Moore.
Jim is survived by his wife, Viki Carol (Hodges) Whistle, of the home; his sons, James “Chip” Whistle of South Haven, Mississippi, Robert Whistle, Michael Whistle and wife, Debra, all of Pleasant Hill, Eric Hawkins, Fenton, Ryan Whistle and wife, Brooke, and Justin Whistle, all of Pleasant Hill; his daughters, Ellen Spangler and husband, William, Neosho, Jennifer Kershner and husband, Jim, Zionsville, Indiana, Sarah (Sharp) Green, Lee’s Summit, Rachel Kauffman and husband, Derek, Pleasant Hill, and Jessica Hale and husband, Josh, Lee’s Summit.
He is also survived by his siblings, Cheryl Wantland, St Louis, Kim Bramell, Urich, Cynthia Whistle, Norman, Oklahoma, Gerald Whistle, Hot Springs, Arkansas, Rodney Whistle, Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, Rickey Whistle, Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and Michael Moore, Urich.
Jim, AKA Pop-Pop, is loved by 23 grandchildren and eight (and 3⁄4) great-grandchildren.
Jim supported his local community and was an active member of the United Methodist Church of Pleasant Hill.
Jim’s compassion and generosity touched the lives of many. He will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure to know him.
Cremation has been accorded. A memorial service in “Loving Memory of Jimmy D. “Jim” Whistle,” was June 24 at the Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church Community Life Center, Pleasant Hill.
In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the United Methodist Church Youth Fund, 1300 Lexington, Pleasant Hill, MO 64080.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Wallace Funeral Home, Pleasant Hill.