Donna S. Kendrick
July 26, 1940 – Oct. 23, 2021
Donna Sue Kendrick, 81, Archie, died Oct. 23 at Wellsville Retirement Community, Wellsville, Kansas. Donna Sue was born July 26, 1940, in Warrensburg, the daughter of Donald Clayton and Nellie Mae (Harding) Horn.
She attended Archie schools from fourth grade through high school, graduating in 1958. Donna Sue also received an associate’s degree from Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg.
Donna married the love of her life, William “Bill” E. Kendrick, on Sept. 5, 1958, in Jefferson City. They were blessed with three sons and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She had lived in Raytown before moving back to Archie in 1962.
Donna Sue worked for the Archie Public Schools as a secretary for 20 years.
She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Archie and also sang in the choir. She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi.
Sue wore many hats and did it with grace, love and kindness. She was a giver and shared a smile with everyone. She enjoyed her family and friends gatherings, playing cards, bowling, Snapchat, feeding any cat, dog or bird she could, road trips and slot machines.
Donna Sue was preceded in death by her parents and an infant sister, Mary Horn.
She is survived by her husband, William “Cape,” of the home; her three sons, Bill and Janetta Kendrick, Drexel, Barry and Paula Kendrick, Camdenton, and Brent Kendrick, Kansas City; six grandchildren, Scott and Ginna Kendrick, Thomas and Jill McCoy, Ben and Stephanie Hansen, Charles and Kelly Anderson, Kurtis and Kayla Weaver, and Andrew and Brianna Bissell; and the cream of the crop, the great-grandchildren, Madie, Aidan, Trevor, Lily, Chase, Sydney, Riley, Cora, Quinn and Charlie.
Funeral services were Oct. 28 at the Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville.
Burial followed in Crescent Hill Cemetery, Adrian. Memorial contributions may be made to the Harrisonville Animal Shelter.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville.
Kermit Reeves
June 20, 1939 – Oct. 22, 2021
Kermit Reeves was born June 20, 1939, in Daugherty, the son of Kenneth and Blanche Reeves. He died Oct. 22 at his home at the age of 82.
On Jan. 4, 1959, Kermit married Beverly Beshore at the Archie Christian Church, Archie.
He was a lifelong resident of Cass County and was a 1957 graduate of Archie High School. In 1962, he acquired a farm just north of the Austin community where he spent the rest of this life.
He worked as a dairy farmer for 40 years with his wife of 52 years, Beverly Reeves. Some of his favorite pastimes included playing cards with friends, raccoon hunting and helping his friends and neighbors with farming and many other projects.
His favorite pastime of all was spending time with his family.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Beverly Ann Reeves; and his parents.
He is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Kent and Nadine Reeves, Harrisonville; and two sons, Clint and Dawn Reeves, Peculiar, and Clifford and Donna Reeves, Bartonville, Texas; grandchildren, Kyle and Christy Reeves, Grant and Chelsea Reeves, Kassidy Reeves, Caden Reeves; and great-grandchildren, Isabel Bakken, Kinley Reeves and Kyzer Reeves; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Kermit was a great dad and grandfather and loved to attend activities and sporting events of his children and grandchildren.
As a lifelong member of the community, Kermit will be missed by many friends including his best buddy, Nathan Warner, and his most special friend, Carol Talley.
Funeral services were Oct. 26 at the First Baptist Church, Archie. Burial was in the Crescent Hill Cemetery, Adrian.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville.
Evelyn M. Smith
May 24, 1932 – Oct. 28, 2021
Evelyn May (Hartzler) Smith, 89, died Oct. 28 at Greencroft Healthcare.
She was born May 24, 1932, in Cass County, the daughter of Clarence and Nellie (Yoder) Hartzler.
On June 27, 1956, she married Maurice E. Smith in Garden City.
He survives along with three children, Gail and Randy Blosser, Goshen, Stanley and Carolyn Smith, Elkhart and Susan and Milad Hanna, Goshen; 18 grandchildren spread from the Pacific to the Atlantic; 28 great-grandchildren plus one on the way; and two sisters, Mary Kathryn Yoder and Esther Hartzler, both of Harrisonville.
Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Helen Kenagy and Ethel Hartzler; and a brother, J.T. Hartzler.
Evelyn was a member of East Goshen Mennonite Church and a life member of Arkansas State Teachers Association. She had a Master’s Degree in Education and was a kindergarten and elementary teacher.
She enjoyed amateur radio and crafts and was very creative, photographed nesting and feeding birds. She wrote a book on wildflowers of Izard County, Arkansas, and identified butterflies and mushrooms.
A funeral service was Nov. 2 at the East Goshen Mennonite Church. Pastors Merle Hostetler and Naomi Yoder officiated. A visitation was from 10 to 11 a.m. Nov. 4 with a funeral service following at the Sycamore Grove Mennonite Church, Garden City. Burial was in the Clearfork Cemetery, Garden City.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville.
Matthew W. Violett
Feb. 9, 1969 – Oct. 25, 2021
Matthew Wayne Violett, Harrisonville, was born Feb. 9, 1969, in Kansas City, the son of Virgil Wayne and Patricia (Thornbrugh) Violett. He died Oct. 25 at Research Medical Center, Kansas City, at the age of 52 years, 8 months and 16 days.
Matthew was employed as a lead installer for Calton Cabinets in Centerview.
He was a thrill seeker, loved going to the lake, riding his jet skis, going as fast as he could on an inner tube behind the boat and riding his motorcycle.
Matthew enjoyed coaching his daughter’s softball team through the years. He was known as a big jokester and loved to tease people.
Matthew is survived by his wife, Crystal Howard, of the home; two sons, Jakob Gowing and significant other, Annie Ray, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Cole Violett of the home; a daughter, Elizabeth Violett of the home; his parents, Virgil and Patty Violett, Lee’s Summit; two sisters, Becky Violett and wife, Jennifer, Peculiar, and Meredith Violett, Plattsburg; uncle and aunt, John and Linda Thornbrugh, Gulf Port, Florida; his mother-in-law, Cindy Susko, Harrisonville; nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.
Cremation. A celebration of life service was Oct. 30 at the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Longview Baptist Church Memorial Fund, Lee’s Summit.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville.
