Obituaries

Michael E. Ayler
April 4, 1962 – June 19, 2021

Michael Eugene Ayler, Olathe, Kansas, was born April 4, 1962, in Clinton, the son of John Henry, Jr., and Velma Lee (Larrison) Ayler. He died June 19 at the Olathe Medical Center, Olathe, Kansas, at the age of 59 years, 2 months and 15 days.

Michael was employed in the IT Department for Honeywell, Kansas City, for 40 years and loved his job there.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Michael is survived by two sisters, Brenda Cantrell and husband, Robert, and Carolyn S. Shell, all of Harrisonville; many cousins and friends.

Funeral services were June 29 at the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, with burial in the Elm Springs Cemetery, Kingsville.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville.

Candy M. Fairbanks
June 27, 1961 – June 20, 2021

Candy Marie Fairbanks, Harrisonville, was born in the family home in Everett, the daughter of Andy Bob Matthew and Lelah Mae (Neill) Matthew. She died June 20 at her home with her faithful dog, Gracie, by her side at the age of 59 years, 11 months and 23 days.

On June 30, 1990, Candy married Clyde Leonard Fairbanks in Harrisonville.

Candy was employed in customer service, until she became a homemaker in Harrisonville. She was a member of the South Fork Baptist Church near Drexel.

Candy enjoyed fishing, building crosses to spread the Word of God and enjoyed doing Facebook posts of her meals.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by a grandson, Tristin R. Fairbanks; and her husband, Clyde L. Fairbanks.

Candy is survived by three children, Stephanie A. McGirl and Gene, Warrensburg, Pamela K. Ferguson and Cory, Harrisonville, and Clyde E. Fairbanks, Jr., and Mandy, Peculiar; five grandchildren, Ashley, Ariel, Griffin, Daniel and Lorelei; great-grandchildren, Emery, Kaylee, Emmett, Jasper, Elias and Camille; two sisters, Ruth A. Matthew and Glynis D. Arnall, and a brother, Randy R. Matthew, all of Harrisonville. Through the years, Candy gained several close friends.

Honorary pallbearers were Daniel Fairbanks, Griffin Fairbanks, Bill Tatum, Phil Deeds, Pete Self and Paul Johnson.

Funeral services were June 28 at the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, cremation followed the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to Cass County Rescue Mission.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville.

Michael W. Kelley
April 21, 1954 – June 17, 2021

Michael Wayne Kelley, 67, Harrisonville, died June 17 at his home in Harrisonville. Michael was born April 21, 1954, in Kansas City, the son of Harold Wayne Kelley, Jr., and Pauline Ruth (Maggard) Davis.

He was a 1972 graduate of Raytown South High School. He lived in Kansas City before moving to Harrisonville in 1987. He married Rhonda Lynn Allred on July 19, 1975, in Kansas City.

Michael was an auto body repairman for the majority of his working years, retiring in 2014.

He was a member of the Boy Scouts of America, serving in several positions including Scout Master and Committee Chair for Troop No. 274. He was a member of the Tribe of Mic-O-Say and Order of the Arrow. He was a member of the Choctaw Nation.

Michael was also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints, Lee’s Summit.

Michael was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Tim Kelley and Mark Kelley; and a sister, Ruth Kelley. He is survived by his wife, Rhonda, of the home; a son, Chad Allen Kelley and Amy and a daughter, Susy Lynn McLain and John, all of Harrisonville; a sister, Leah Kahler and Gary, Newalla, Oklahoma; 13 grandchildren, Dillon Tarwater and Emily, Mason Tarwater and Abby, Weston Tarwater, Braydon Tarwater, Lily Tarwater, MacKenzee Epperson, Layne Anderson, Tatum Kelley, Taylor Kelley, Prestin Anderson, Cooper Kelley, Cassidy Mertz and Addison Kelley.

Services were June 21 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Lee’s Summit. Burial followed at Mt. Moriah Cemetery, Kansas City. Contributions may be made to Head for The Cure Foundation, headforthecure.org, 1607 Oak St., Kansas City, MO 64108.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville.

Vicki J. Lyon
Sept. 3, 1954 – June 16, 2021

Vicki Jo Lyon, 66, Drexel, died June 16 at St. Luke’s Hospice House, Kansas City. Vicki was born Sept. 3, 1954, in Harrisonville, the daughter of Donald M. and Patricia Lou (Richardson) Lyon.

She married Stephen Spellman March 29, 1975, and to this union three children were born, Patricia, Brandi and Justin. Later, the marriage ended in divorce.

Vicki was a 1972 graduate of Cass-Midway High School. She had lived in West Line, Osawatomie, Kansas, Kansas City and Cleveland before moving to Drexel.

Vicki was a school bus driver for Cass-Midway Schools (Apple Bus) and Blue Valley School District (Durham Bus Company) where she was a member of the Bus Drivers Local No. 838.

She also worked as a waitress for Sanderson’s in Kansas City and other area restaurants. Vicki loved to watch golf and football and the Kansas City Chiefs, on TV. She loved playing board games and cards, especially Wahoo, Yahtzee, Dominos, Canasta and Bingo and she enjoyed teaching her grandchildren how to play them.

She loved bowling and had been in a bowling league in the past. And of course, she loved going to the casinos.

Vicki enjoyed nature and camping at La Cygne Lake. She really enjoyed traveling, and some highlights include the Rocky Mountains, the Smoky Mountains, the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico, the San Francisco Bay, the Gulf of Mexico from Texas to Florida, the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas and Mexico.

She especially loved her 12-day trip across the nostalgic famous Route 66. Vicki took great pride in being a shuttle bus driver during the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia.

Vicki had many friends including lifelong friends and friends she recently met, neighbors and coworkers, past and present, whom she loved very much and who will miss her dearly.

Vicki was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Steve Lyon and Eric Sechrest.

Vicki is survived by her three children and Tricia’s fiance, Eric Moore; a brother, Bob Lyon and wife, Lori, West Line; two sisters, Donna Barrett and husband, Ray, West Line, and Lori Brock, Cleveland; a sister-in-law, Gail Lyon, West Line; three grandchildren, Jade, Ryleigh and Ashlynn; and many nieces, nephews and extended family.

Memorial services will be Sept. 4 at West Line Community Building, West Line.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville.

Alan B. Marshall
Jan. 21, 1954 – June 16, 2021

Alan Barrett Marshall, 67, Harrisonville, died June 16 at Meadow View of Harrisonville. Alan was born Jan. 21, 1954, in Denver, Colorado, the son of Lewis and Audrey Gail (Barrett) Marshall.

He had lived in Arizona, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina before moving to Harrisonville.

He worked as a glazier and plumber before his retirement.

Alan is survived by a brother, Michael Marshall, Pittsburgh; a sister, Patricia Harris, and her husband, Richard, Harrisonville; and several nieces and nephews.

No services are scheduled.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville.

Annette Taylor
March 20, 1940 – June 23, 2021

Annette Taylor, 81, Harrisonville, died June 23. Annette was born March 20, 1940, and was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Taylor, and daughter, Debra Truninger.

On Aug. 30, 1968, she married Richard Taylor. She had five children.

Annette worked most of her career at Western Electric/AT&T in Lee’s Summit and then at the Cass County Courthouse in Harrisonville, where she worked for 15 years before her retirement.

Annette made friends wherever she worked and wherever she went and enjoyed lifelong friendships. She wask nown for her generosity, kindness, hugs, her love of reading, sending greeting cards and family group texts.

Annette is survived by four children, Denise Carter and Ray, Harrisonville, Karen Taylor, McKinney, Texas, Charlie Truninger, Harrisonville, and Annie Taylor, Redwood City, California; seven grandchildren, Jason Truninger, Ruben Carter, Nichole Marshall, Adam Lee, Cyrus Truninger, Jonathan Truninger and Braydon Truninger; seven great- grandchildren, Quincy, Sicily, August, Caroline, Henry, Charlotte and Carson; a brother, Jerry Atkinson and Brenda of Kingsville; and a sister, Sandra Weidenfeller and John, Fort Collins, Colorado; and other relatives and friends.

Annette will be laid to rest next to Richard in Harrisonville, and there will be a private graveside memorial for immediate family.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville.

Shirley A. Webb
Aug. 15, 1941 – June 18, 2021

Shirley Anna Webb was born Aug. 15, 1941, and died June 18. She was born in Blytheville, Arkansas, the daughter of Mallard “Bennie” Webb and Elvie Hembree and the fourth in line with 10 brothers and sisters.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Ray, Dale, Richard and Jimmy; sisters, Patsy Ruth and Marilyn; three children, Cindy Kane, Chad Thomas Rees, II, and Diane Zeiler; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and so many others whose life she touched.

She is survived by her brothers, Ben Webb, Jerry Webb, Tom Webb; and a sister, Nancy Layne.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Chad Thomas Rees, and they will be laid to rest together.

After raising her children she went to college and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1991. She proudly paid off her school loans in October 2001.

She worked as a librarian at Mid-Continent Public Libraries until her retirement in 2006. She enjoyed reading, crotchet, playing cards and was never afraid to try something new. Pink was her absolute favorite color and she loved chocolate.

Funeral services were June 23 at the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, with burial in the Oakland Cemetery, Harrisonville.

There was a graveside service June 23 at Oakland Cemetery in Harrisonville.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville.

Etta S. Fairman
June 20, 1935 – June 19, 2021

Etta Sue Hendrick Fairman, 85, Urich, died June 19 in Belton. She was born June 20, 1935, the daughter of Brooksie and Anna Marie Daniel Hendrick near Urich.

At the age of 11, Etta Sue accepted Christ as her Savior while attending Cove Creek Baptist Church near Mayesburg.

She graduated from Ballard High School in 1953 and attended business college in Kansas City. Her first job was at Emery-Byrd-Thayer in Kansas City.

She married her high school sweetheart, Melvin Lee Fairman, Aug. 31, 1956, in Belton. To this union, four children were born.

Etta Sue was quite creative. She enjoyed sewing, ceramics, crocheting and painting. When her family was young, she had a large garden and spent a good amount of time freezing and canning the bounty of that garden.

For the first 10 years of their marriage, she and Melvin lived in Independence, but bought a farm in Ballard in 1966.

They attended Cove Creek Christian Church as a family and each of her four children came to know the Lord there.

Etta Sue was involved in Cove Creek’s VBS and taught Sunday school.

She was a member of the Ballard PTA and was president of the organization for several years. She was also a member and president of Christian Women’s Fellowship, Mingo Club, the Red Hatters Club and the Fine Arts League of Bates County.

She was an avid spectator to all the sports and other events in which her children, and later her grandchildren, participated. Melvin was the girls’ softball coach for many years and she learned to keep score and assisted him in that way.

Etta Sue was called a “social butterfly” because she was always on the go and hard to catch at home until the time came when her knees didn’t work so well anymore and she spent the majority of her time in a wheelchair.

Even then, she kept in contact with lots of family and friends. We joked that she needed a switchboard to keep all her calls straight.

In later years, Melvin and Etta Sue took pleasure in traveling to Branson and enjoyed a variety of music shows there. Etta Sue also enjoyed playing dominoes at the Ballard Grill with a lively group of friends.

She learned how to use a computer, became a member of Facebook and loved keeping up with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She especially enjoyed the many pictures they shared and the communication that went back and forth between them all.

Etta Sue was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 60 years, Melvin; her brothers, Scottie and Bill; and sisters-in-law, Ginny and Linda.

She is survived by two sons, Alan Fairman and wife, Linda, Ballard and Darryl Fairman and wife, Michele, Peculiar; two daughters, Susan Wainscott and husband, Chuck, Raymore and Lisa Smith and husband, Bret, Acampo, California; a brother, Don Hendrick and wife, Ferne, Peculiar; a sister, Iris Schuster and husband, Eldo, Overland Park, Kansas; a brother-in-law, Marvin Fairman and wife, Mary Ann, Highland Village, Texas; 13 grandchildren, Julie Fairman Guffey and husband Lance, Ballard, Jason Fairman and wife Cara, Adrian, Lindsey Wainscott Kalivoda and husband Cody, Overland Park, Kansas, Tyler Wainscott and wife Danielle, Raymore, Cameron Wainscott and wife Audrianna, Raymore, Connor Wainscott and wife Tiffany, Shawnee, Kansas, Madison Wainscott, Raymore, Kyle Smith and wife Lacy, Acampo, California, Caleb Smith, Acampo, California, Kelsey Smith Wieland and husband Jacob, Joliet, Montana, Brooks Fairman and wife Emilee, Belton, McKenzie Fairman Harms and husband Jacob, Harrisonville, and Jace Fairman, Peculiar; 19 great-grandchildren, Shelby, Rylee, Kaden and Greyson Guffey, Anna and Carson Fairman, Finnegan and Marguerite Kalivoda, Kinsley, Emberlyn, Delaney and Hudson Wainscott, Kellan, Nolan and Ashlyn Wainscott, Gracie, Paisley and Bailey Smith, and Jack Harms; and a host of family and friends.

Etta Sue trusted completely in God and knew that He had a home prepared for her. After Melvin’s death, she depended on God more than ever before and grew closer to Him. She leaves behind a lot of memories.

Funeral services were June 26 at Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel, Butler. Burial was in Oak Hill Cemetery, Butler. Contributions are suggested to Cove Creek Christian Church or the Salvation Army.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel, Butler.

Harold O. Grainger
Aug. 5, 1934 – June 20, 2021

Harold Oliver Grainger, 86, Butler, died June 20 at his home in Butler, surrounded by his family. He was born Aug. 5, 1934, the son of Lester Golden and Bonnie Newman Alexander Grainger in Parkville.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a granddaughter, Jessica Evans; two great-grandchildren, Shakayla Grace Evans-Barton and Jayden Bennett Carmichael; two brothers, James L. “Jim” Grainger and Carl Grainger; and a sister, Edith Rinehart.

Harold is survived by his wife, Barbara Grainger, Butler; two sons, Mike Grainger and wife, Pam, Butler, and Mitch Grainger, Foley, Alabama; two daughters, Lisa Evans and husband, Bobby, and Mitzi Grainger and Tux, all of Butler; nine grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life service was June 24 at Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel, Butler. Burial with military honors was in Oak Hill Cemetery, Butler.

In lieu of flowers, contributions are suggested to Friendship Full Gospel Church, Carpenter’s Cup or Assembly of God Church.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel, Butler.

Jerry L. Lynn
April 6, 1960 – June 20, 2021

Jerry Lee Lynn, 61, Butler, died June 20 at St. Joseph Medical Center, Kansas City. He was born April 6, 1960, the son of Earnest Robert and Lydia Marie Jensen in Holden.

He was preceded in death by his parents; half brother, Bob Lynn; and half sister, Patty Gunnels.

Jerry is survived by his sister, Bonnie Sue Lynn, Butler; half brother, Larry Lynn, Freeman; and nephews and nieces.

Graveside services were June 23 at Wills Cemetery, Peculiar. Services were under the direction of the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel in Butler.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel, Butler.

Patricia C. Wiggins
Aug. 27, 1967 – June 24, 2021

Patricia Carol “Patty” Wiggins, 53, Butler, died June 24 at Bates County Memorial Hospital, Butler. She was born Aug. 27, 1967, the daughter of Oscar Patrick and Judith Carol Lewis Wiggins in Montebello, California.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Percy and Loraine Lewis.

Patty is survived by her mother, Judith C. “Judy” White and husband, Larry, Butler; her father, Oscar P. Wiggins and wife, Peggy, Greers Ferry, Arkansas; a brother, Doug White and wife, Shelli, Adrian; three sisters, LeAnna Fisher and husband Jeff and Sandy Hilbus, all of Adrian, and Alice Nelson and husband Scott, Lamar, Colorado; an uncle, Jack Lewis and wife, Betty, Butler; and two aunts, Jean Thornbrugh, Vacaville, California, and Fern Lewis, Phoenix, Arizona.

A visitation was June 29 at the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel in Butler.

Patty’s wishes were to be cremated. Inurnment will be at a later date in Crescent Hill Cemetery in Adrian. Contributions are suggested to the Adrian Library.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel, Butler.

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