S. Gwaine Arney
Feb. 2, 1955 – Feb. 24, 2022
Spencer Gwaine Arney, 67, Harrisonville, died Feb 24 at his home in Harrisonville. He was born Feb. 2, 1955, the son of Ernest George and Ola Belle Denby Arney in Center, Texas.
He was preceded in death by his father, Ernest George Arney; father-in-law, Bob Moles; and brother-in-law, Don Bradshaw.
Gwaine is survived by his wife of 45 years, Betty Arney, Harrisonville; two daughters, Holly Brunton and husband, Wes, Sanford, North Carolina, and Erin Kelley and husband, Todd, Kansas City; his mother, Ola Belle Arney, Adrian; two brothers, Mark Arney and wife, Janelle, Adrian, and David Arney and wife, Debi, Punta Gorda, Florida; a sister, Renae Bradshaw, Archie; mother-in-law, Ruth Moles, Adrian; and two grandchildren, Daniel Brunton and Charlotte Kelley.
Funeral services were March 1 at Heartland Baptist Fellowship, Harrisonville. Interment with military honors was in Crescent Hill Cemetery, Adrian.
Contributions are suggested to Word First Bible Publishing or Heartland Baptist Fellowship.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel, Butler.
Frances S. Gunn
Oct. 14, 1925 – Feb. 21, 2022
Frances Sue Gunn, 96, Harrisonville, died Feb. 21 at Crown Care Center, Harrisonville. Frances Gunn was born Oct. 14, 1925, in Garden City, the daughter of Charles and Una (Bullock) Bunger.
Frances graduated from Harrisonville High School. She married Robert Gunn, who preceded her in death.
They lived in Ohio for more than 20 years before moving back to Harrisonville. She then worked as a librarian in Independence, although she really would help with any task or job needed in her position from audio visual inspector to book repair. Frances also served as the librarian at Rockwood Baptist Church for many years.
In her free time, she enjoyed painting, decorating her house, sewing and was skilled to the point if she saw something she liked she could create her own pattern to recreate it.
She leaves behind a legacy of love to her family, as they knew she’d give them the shirt off of her back and was always there when they needed her.
Frances was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; and all 12 of her siblings.
She is survived by her daughter, Patricia Oliver; her son, Ronald Mohr; her three grandchildren, Veronica and Jamie Aguire, Michael and Tammy Oliver and Carol and Scott Banes; five greatgrandchildren with another on the way; and many nieces, nephews and extended family.
At this time no services are scheduled.
Inurnment will take place in the Orient Cemetery, Harrisonville, at a later date.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville.
Kenneth W. Smith
Dec. 4, 1950 – Feb. 13, 2022
Kenneth “Kenny” Willis Smith, 71, died at his home in Drexel Feb. 13. Kenny was born in Louisburg, Kansas, Dec. 4, 1950, the son of Charles and Nora Fern Smith and was the youngest of 11 children, five brothers and five sisters, Walter Watson and Loretta, Charles Wallace and Deborah, Lorene and Glenn, Dennis and Suecko, Donna and Paul, Irene and Lewis, Shirley and Melvin, Pauline and Kenneth, George and Linda, and Harry and Mary.
Kenny left behind a legacy of hard work ethics, humor, caring and compassion. He was a graduate of Drexel High School, class of 1968, and served with the Army Reserve and U.S Air Force.
In 1971, Kenny married Sharon Flanagan from Adrian, and they had a daughter, Shea. He married Donna Collins in 1976 in Quapaw, Oklahoma, and divorced in November 2007. He raised Donna’s son, Justin Mitchell, from the age of 3 years and together they had a son, Brent Smith.
He had resided in both Kansas and Missouri and lived in Overland Park, Kansas, for more than 30 years.
He worked in various industries, some full-time and some part-time including Smith & Loveless, Lenexa, Kansas, where he installed mechanical components on large sewage lift stations. He owned and operated multiple service stations in both Kansas and Missouri; was an insurance agent, marketed and sold multiple lines of insurance products at Life and Health in Overland Park, for more than 15 years; worked for Kern Construction in Drexel, construction work, maintenance and repair on light and heavy construction equipment; Cornerstone Painting, Overland Park, commercial painting interior and exterior; and Tru Check, Lenexa, as a technical field supervisor, installing automatic reading and transmitting devices in gas meters.
Kenny was a real hands-on person with strong mechanical aptitude, intelligence, analytical and self-motivation. He achieved various sales production awards and recognition for exceeding sales goals.
He enjoyed working with senior clients in insurance.
Being from a small rural town, he liked being outdoors and talking with old friends. He enjoyed fishing with the boys, greyhound dog races, history, reading and travel.
He was always there to support Justin and Brent with school and college. He attended sports activities, conferences, shopping for their first vehicle and so much more. He always enjoyed being with family and friends.
Kenny was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Nora Fern Smith; brothers, Walter Watson Smith, Charles Wallace “Chuck” Smith, Dennis Ray Twyman and Harry Louis Smith; sisters, Lorene Rose Twyman Morris and Shirley Ann Twyman Robinson.
Kenny is survived by three sisters, Donna Angell, Shawnee, Kansas, Irene Woods, Paradise, Texas, and Pauline Gentry, Belton; and a brother George Robert Smith, Drexel; his daughter, Shea Newton, her four daughters and her eight grandchildren; a son and daughter-in-law, Justin and Julie Mitchell and their children, Gavin, Audrey and Wyatt, Lee’s Summit; son and daughter-in-law, Brent and Tiffany Smith and their son, Owen, Leawood, Kansas; and many friends, cousins, nephews and nieces who all loved him.
Memorial services were Feb. 26 at the Mullinax Funeral Home, Drexel Chapel.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Mullinax Funeral Home, Drexel Chapel.
William E. Wesemann
Jan. 28, 1953 – Feb. 22, 2022
William “Bill” E. Wesemann died Feb. 22, at Research Medical Center, Kansas City. Bill was born Jan. 28, 1953, the son of Walt and Rosa Lee Wesemann, Harrisonville, at the Harrisonville Memorial Hospital when it was just off the square.
He then lived in Archie until the age of 5. They moved to Harrisonville where Bill went to school. He graduated, with the class of 1971 from Harrisonville High School. He studied electronics at United Electronics, graduating with the class of 1973. He also studied for an associate of arts degree at Longview Community College.
Bill started work at King Radio in 1973. Bill then started working at Honeywell in June 1984. He liked his job since he was able to travel a lot. He retired from Honeywell, Kansas City, in 2012.
He married Jeanie on Feb. 8, 2003. At home he did a lot of honey do’s, He loved his children and grandchildren. He liked doing yard work, especially mowing the yard. He loved his motorcycle and enjoyed just riding around town and small trips. He also liked to do some camping and boating.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Walt and Rosa Lee Wesemann.
Bill is survived by his wife, Jeanie, of the home in Harrisonville; four children, Nick and Ryan, Jessica and Rho’mel, Jeannette and Harold, and Michelle and Samuel; and his six grandchildren, Michael, Christopher and Elvia, Matthew, Jennifer and Sam, Jonathan and his sweet little Ava.
Cremation. A celebration of life gathering will be from 5:30 until 7 p.m., March 4 at the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville.
The family suggests memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society or the National Kidney Foundation.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville.
Dakota B. Winchel
Dec. 5, 2001 – Feb. 19, 2022
Dakota B. Winchel, 20, Peculiar, died Feb. 19. Dakota was born in Kansas City on Dec. 5, 2001, the son of Joshua B. Winchel and Jennefer M. (Jacobs).
Dakota attended RayPec High School and had been working as a cook at Buffalo Wild Wings in Belton. He was an excellent cook, loved to hunt, fish and valued his time with his brothers and sisters.
Dakota was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Randy Winchel; paternal great-grandmother, Grace Lemasters; and maternal grandfather, Ralph Koontz.
He leaves behind his loving parents, Josh Winchel and Heather and Jennefer Jacobs; three brothers, Taylor Jimenez, Austin Jimenez and Hunter Winchel; three sisters, Michelle Brown, Hailey Brown and Randi Winchel; paternal grandmother, Linda Cox and Stoney; paternal grandfather, George Lemasters and Linda; paternal great-grandmother, Judy O’Neall; maternal grandmother, Deb Crow and Perry; maternal great-grandmother, Mary “Nanny” Koontz; maternal aunt, Kassie Castle and Adam; maternal uncle, Rowdy Madden; maternal grandfather, Marvin Madden; paternal step-grandmother, Sherry Davis and Gerald; many maternal great aunts, uncles and cousins; and many other friends.
Services were March 1 at Cullen Funeral Home, Raymore. Burial was in Longview Cemetery, Kansas City.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Cullen Funeral Home, Raymore.
Vickie L. Woodward
April 11, 1961 – Feb. 20, 2022
Vickie Lynn Woodward, Harrisonville, was born April 11, 1961, in St. Joseph, the daughter of Bobbie Suter and Carrie (McFarland) Suter Brown. She died Feb. 20 at the age of 60 years, 10 months and 9 days.
On Sept. 10, 1988, Vickie married Charles Eugene Woodward in Kansas City.
Vickie was employed as a financial clerk for more than 20 years at First Western States and later for Citi Financial.
She attended Abiding Love Baptist Church, Harrisonville. Vickie loved being with family, camping and teaching Sunday school at her church. She was a volunteer at Crossroads Hospice for a few years.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her stepfather, Al Brown; and a sister, Trish.
Vickie is survived by her husband, Charles E. Woodward, of the home; two sisters, Nikki King, Harrisonville, and Denise Snyder, Overland Park, Kansas; two nieces; two nephews, five great-nieces; and three great-nephews; other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were Feb. 25 at the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, with burial in the Oak Hill Cemetery, Butler.
The family suggests memorial contributions to the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville.
Ruby J. Beard
Oct. 18, 1941 – Feb. 17, 2022
Ruby Jeanette Beard, 80, Adrian, died Feb. 17 at Saint Luke’s North Hospital, Kansas City. She was born Oct. 18, 1941, the daughter of John Bruce and Ruby Ellen Sewell Campbell in Butler.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Charles “Chuck” Campbell; her husband, Robert “Bob” Beard, in 2016; and son, Kiley Beard in 2018.
Jeanette is survived by two sons, Robby Dee Beard and wife, Sylvie, Quebec, Canada, and Marty Wayne Beard, Adrian; a brother, John Campbell and wife, Connie, Kansas City; a sister, Louise Spencer and husband, Jim, Warner Robbins, Georgia; and a granddaughter, Stacey.
Funeral services were Feb. 23 at the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel, Butler. Interment was in Oak Hill Cemetery, Butler.
Contributions are suggested to the Adrian Methodist Church, Adrian Garden Club or American Red Cross.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel, Butler.
Jeanette A. Cook
Jan. 31, 1936 – Feb. 23, 2022
Jeanette Anne Cook, 86, Butler, died Feb. 23 at Overland Park Regional Medical Center, Overland Park, Kansas. She was born Jan. 31, 1936, the daughter of William and Lenora Brownsberger Shelton in Johnstown.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and husband, William “Bill” Cook, in 2012.
Jeanette is survived by a son, Richard “Rick” Cook and wife, Martha, Springfield; a sister, Lavonne Singer, Appleton City; two grandchildren, Danny Cook and Lindsey Jansin; and two great-grandsons.
Mass of Christian burial was Feb. 28 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Montrose. Burial was in St Mary’s Cemetery, Montrose. Contributions are suggested to the church.
Services were under the direction of the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel, Butler.
Bradley W. Moloski
Oct. 30, 1974 – Feb. 23, 2022
Bradley Wayne Moloski, 47, Amsterdam, died Feb. 23 at Research Medical Center, Kansas City. Brad was born Oct. 30, 1974, in Harrisonville, the son of Robert Joseph and Sandra Lynn (Cook) Moloski.
He had lived in Harrisonville before moving to Amsterdam in 2020.
Brad was a backhoe operator and had worked for Century Plumbing in Grandview for 15 years.
He enjoyed running chainsaws and had worked for local tree trimming companies in the Harrisonville area. Brad also enjoyed fishing, hunting and barbecuing.
Brad was preceded in death by his father, Robert, on May 30, 1990; his grandparents, James and Adelma Moloski, and Jack and Velma Cook; and a grandson, Ashton Moloski.
He is survived by his companion, Tammy Medlock, Amsterdam; a daughter, Shelbie Moloski, Garden City; his mother, Sandra Cook and companion, Cliff Linder, Harrisonville; three sons, Robbie Moloski, St. Louis, Steven Minor, Amsterdam, and Ryan Medlock, Harrisonville; and four grandchildren, Dylan Moloski, Axel Medlock, Brycen Minor, Jayden Minor; and his constant companions, Patton and Bobo.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. March 5 at the West Line Christian Church, West Line.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville.
Robert G. Morgan
Sept. 21, 1941 – Feb. 18, 2022
Robert Gene Morgan, 80, Hume, died Feb. 18 at Kindred Hospital Northland, Kansas City. Bob was born Sept. 21, 1941, the son of James Thomas Morgan and Eula VanDaun (Lile) Morgan in Greensburg, Kentucky.
Bob was one of six children. While growing up, he spent several years with his maternal grandparents in Hodgensville, Kentucky. He worked with his grandfather planting, tending and harvesting tobacco plants by hand. It was here he learned the value of hard work and also how to have fun drag racing cars.
After school, he moved to Moorpark, California, where he worked installing machinery for the Julius Goldman Egg City plant.
It was the world’s largest egg farm at the time.
It was here that he met Sheila. He would fondly tell the story of how his boss would move Sheila from machine to machine as they needed to be fixed and then they would run like a charm.
Bob married Sheila Fern Farrell, the love of his life, on Oct. 29, 1967, in Ventura, California. Bob and Sheila moved to rural Hume March 1969 where he engaged in farming with his father in-law.
They moved into the family home of Sheila’s maternal grandparents where they have resided since 1969 in a Century Farm.
Bob had a great passion for farming throughout the years. He also enjoyed several career opportunities in addition to farming. In the early years in Missouri, he worked at Feemster’s Gun Shop where he learned the trade of gunsmithing.
After retirement and most recently, Bob filled the role of road-grader operator of Henry Township which he enjoyed a great deal.
Bob had a tremendous love for cars from a very young age. Early in life he had a 1966 Chevy II 327 4-speed he would drag race. He also souped up Sheila’s 1966 Chevelle 396 4-speed much to her dismay.
Bob strove for excellence and perfection in everything he did. He prided himself in straight crop rows long before technology could help us out. That perfection led him to the love of his hobbies, gunsmithing and woodworking.
Bob worked hard to provide for his family, loved deeply and treasured his time with family dearly. He knew how to have a good time and never missed an opportunity to pull a good prank, share a quirky quote or eat Sheila’s chocolate pie.
If you knew Bob, you understood that his faith and belief in God carried him through life. He loved to spend time studying the Bible. In the last few months of life, Bob shared with friends and family his peace and readiness to be with God when the time came.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Eula; a sister, Betty Wilson; a brother, Tommy Morgan; and a sister, Tonda Sims.
Bob is survived by his wife Sheila Morgan; his children, Preston Morgan and Rainey, Doug Morgan and Christine, Lesley Morgan Cochran and Dave, and Rhonda Morgan Yarick and Steve; 14 grandchildren; and 14 greatgrandchildren.
A celebration of life was Feb. 27 at the Hume Christian Church. The family suggests memorial contributions to Hume Christian Church.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Heuser Funeral Home, Rich Hill.
Francis W. Steele
Feb. 28, 1950 – Nov. 5, 2021
Francis “Wayne” Steele was born Feb. 28, 1950, on the family farm in Pleasant Hill, and died Nov. 5, 2021, at Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, Texas, at the age of 71 years, 8 months and 7 days.
He was the son of Lale R. “Randy” and Rosalie Ann (Mullen) Steele.
Wayne spent his younger years in Pleasant Hill and graduated from Pleasant Hill High School in 1968. He was elected senior class president. While in high school, Wayne was an outstanding football and basketball player earning a scholarship to Oklahoma State University.
In his freshman year at Oklahoma State, Wayne earned many accolades as an outstanding defensive end on the freshman football team. During his sophomore year in college, Wayne joined the United States Navy and proudly served his country for six years. Eighteen months of that time was served in the Tonkin Gulf during the Vietnam War.
After his honorable discharge from the United States Navy, Wayne returned to Missouri and lived for a short time in Lee’s Summit before moving to Texas for employment opportunities.
On Sept. 23, 1978, Wayne married Lola Gene Douty and to this union two children, Timothy Wayne and Angel Larissa, were born. The Steele family made their home in Baytown, Texas.
Wayne worked several places throughout the years. The last 10 years he worked for Martin Gas as a millwright until declining health forced his retirement.
Wayne loved children and was known as “The Church Grandpa” at his daughter’s church. He loved giving small gifts to all the children at Christmas and on other special occasions.
When he would have an appointment at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center and spot a child who was being good, he would give them a $2 bill or a gold coin.
Wayne was a caring, loving and supportive father who loved spending time with his family. Two of Wayne’s favorite things to do were, watching sports with his daughter, Angel, and “Saturday Day Out” with his son, Tim, and grandson, Trystan.
Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, Lale R. “Randy” and Rosalie Steele and the “brother he chose,” Johnny Lee Duncan.
He is survived by a son, Timothy Wayne Steele and a daughter, Angel Steele, both of Baytown, Texas; a brother, Allen Steele and wife, Sheryl, Adrian; a half-brother, Terry Mullen and wife, Susan, Bolivar; a sister, Marcella Ruehter and husband, John, of Omaha, Nebraska; a grandson, Trystan Juth, Brighton, Colorado; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
A celebration of life service was Feb. 28 at the Wallace Funeral Home, Pleasant Hill, with John Ruehter officiating.
Inurnment was in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery with full military honors provided by the United States Navy and VFW Post No. 3118 Honor Guard of Pleasant Hill.
