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EVELYN M. KENNEDY
Evelyn Marie Kennedy, 81, Higginsville, Mo., formerly of Independence, died Monday, March 10, 1997, at Meyer Care Center, Higginsville.
Mrs. Kennedy was born Aug. 23, 1915, in Levasy, and lived in Independence and Odessa before moving to Higginsville. She was a teacher in the Odessa R-7 School District for 30 years, retiring in 1977 from McQuerry Elementary School. She received undergraduate and graduate degrees from Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg. She started the first kindergarten in Odessa in the basement of her home in 1946. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Odessa, Delta Kappa Gamma, Odessa Senior Citizens and AARP. Her husband, James M. Kennedy, died in 1986.
Her survivors include a son, Howard J. Kennedy, Louisville, Ky.; a daughter, Sarah Louise Wolfe, Edina, Minn.; a brother, Edwin J. Goodrich, Kansas City; two sisters, Louise Stuessi, Fort Collins, Colo., and Margaret Fischer, West Bend, Wis.; four grandsons; and six great-grandchildren.
Services will be 1 p.m. Thursday at the church. Burial will be in Levasy cemetery. Friends may call from noon to1 p.m. Thursday at the church. The family suggests contributions to the Odessa Senior Citizens Center Inc., 217 S. Second St. Arrangements are under the direction of Husman-Sparks-McDowell Funeral Home, Odessa.
ETHENELLE McNINCH
Ethenelle "Billie" McNinch, 85, Blue Springs, died Sunday, March 9, 1997, at St. Mary`s Hospital of Blue Springs.
Mrs. McNinch was born Sept. 4, 1911, in Breckenridge, Mo. She was a homemaker and a member of Unity Church. Her husband, James McNinch, died March 4, 1994.
Her survivors include a daughter, Patricia R. McNinch, Blue Springs; a sister, Dorothy Elizabeth Ford, Leawood, Kan.; and two grandsons, Blake Thomas Ogilvie, Blue Springs, and Brian W. Ogilvie, Independence.
Memorial services were today at Garden of Mausoleum Chapel, Forest Hill cemetery, Kansas City. Arrangements were under the direction of the Webb-Freer Funeral Home, Blue Springs.
ISABELLE L. NERLING
Isabelle L. Nerling, 80, Independence, died Monday, March 10, 1997, at Columbia Independence Regional Health Center.
Mrs. Nerling was born Feb. 20, 1917, in Schenectady, N.Y., and had lived in Independence for 46 years. She was a homemaker and a member of St. Mary`s Catholic Church and its Altar and Rosary Society. She had belonged to the Beta Sigma Phi sorority since 1952.
Her survivors include her husband, Joseph Nerling Sr. of the home; two sons, Joseph Nerling Jr., Phoenix, and Daniel J. Nerling, Columbia, Mo.; a daughter, Isabelle M. Hutson, Independence; and seven grandchildren.
Funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the church. Burial will be in Mount Washington cemetery. Friends may call from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Carson Independence Chapel, where the rosary will be said at 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to St. Vincents DePaul Society.
HELEN L. PENNINGTON
Helen Lorene "Penny" Pennington, 77, Blue Springs, formerly of Independence, died Saturday, March 8, 1997, at the Blue Springs Care Center.
Mrs. Pennington was born July 20, 1919, in Springfield, Mo., and had lived in Independence most of her life. She was a licensed practical nurse, retiring in 1968 from the Independence Sanitarium and Hospital. She was a member of the Fairmount Christian Church and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary. She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl R. Pennington in 1994.
Her survivors include two sons, John E. Nicholson, Independence, and Tom E. Nicholson, Blue Springs; a brother, Bill Porter, Lexington, Mo.; a sister, Edith Cass, Kansas City; five grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Services were Tuesday at Carson Blue Ridge Chapel, Kansas City. Burial was in Mount Washington cemetery.
MARY E. POWELL
Mary E. "Billie" Powell, 86, Topeka, formerly of Independence, died Monday, March 10, 1997, at her home.
Mrs. Powell was born April 6, 1910, in Arma, Kan., and had lived in this area most of her life, moving to Topeka 1 1/2 years ago. She was a homemaker and a member of the Topeka Branch of the RLDS Church and Order of the Eastern Star 280 in Buckner. Her husband, Joel B. Powell Sr., died in 1980.
Her survivors include a son, Joel B. Powell Jr., Gladstone, Mo.; a daughter, Jewell D. Edwards, Topeka; nine grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Services will be 11 a.m. Friday at D.W. Newcomer`s Sons Noland Road Chapel. Burial will be in Buckner cemetery. Friends may call from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the chapel. The family suggests contributions to the Shriner`s Childrens Hospital.
JEWELL SWIHART
Jewell Johnson Graham Swihart, 92, Camdenton, Mo., died Tuesday, March 11, 1997, at the Lake of the Ozarks General Hospital in Osage Beach, Mo.
Mrs. Swihart was born Florence Jewell Johnson Dec. 30, 1904, and lived most of her life in Jackson County. She was a member of the Grain Valley Christian Church, was a life member of the Blue Springs Order of the Eastern Star, where she was a past district grand matron and grand representative. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Edgar Graham, and by her second husband, Elliott C. Swihart.
Her survivors include a stepson, Glen R. Swihart, Camdenton; two step grandsons; step great-grandchildren; and step nieces and step nephews.
Services will be 3 p.m. Thursday at Webb-Freer Funeral Home, Blue Springs.Burial will be in Blue Springs cemetery. Friends may call at 1 p.m. Thursday at the chapel. The family suggests contributions to the church or the Grain Valley Masonic Lodge.
SHIRLEY FOX
Shirley Fox, 59, Independence, died Friday, Feb. 14, 1997, at Research Medical Center in Kansas City.
Mrs. Fox was born June 13, 1937, in Louisville, Ky. She moved to this area in 1988. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Fox, in 1991.
Her survivors include her son, Tony Fox, Independence; two sisters, Judy Felitsky, Pittsburgh, and Doris Brewer, Louisville; and three grandchildren.
Graveside services will be 2 p.m. Sunday at New Salem cemetery in Independence. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at New Salem Funeral Home.
OLLIE MAY KRAMER
Ollie May Kramer, 73, Independence, died Thursday, Feb. 13, 1997.
Mrs. Kramer was born June 13, 1923, in Topeka, Kan. She lived in the Independence area most of her life. A homemaker, she was a member of the Women of Moose Lodge No. 1092 and the Pythian Sister of Calanthe Temple No. 1.
Her survivors include her husband, Bryce L. Kramer, of the home; seven daughters, Charlotte Hoover, Leatha Nelson and Dana Cox, Independence, Carol Adams and Pat Pennington, El Dorado Springs, Mo., and Mary Mays and Sue Ford, Kansas City; three sons, Jeff Trussell, Independence, Dale Trussell, Tomball, Texas, Jake Trussell, New Holland, Ill.; 24 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Services will be 1 p.m. Tuesday at the George C. Carson Sons Chapel in Independence. Burial will be at Mount Moriah cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday at the chapel. A Moose Lodge service will be at 7:30 p.m.
VANCE E. LINK
Dr. Vance E. Link, 78, Independence, died Thursday, Feb. 13, 1997.
Dr. Link was born in Eustis, Neb. He received his bachelor`s and medical degrees from the University of Nebraska. He was in private practice from 1943 to 1990, except while serving in the Air Force from 1953 to 1956.
He was president of the board of directors of the medical staff of the Independence Sanitarium and Hospital, was a medical instructor at the Independence Sanitarium and Hospital School of Nursing, was medical director of Resthaven in Independence, was on the executive committee of the Jackson County Medical Society, was a diplomat of the American Board of Family Practice, was a preceptor to medical students at the University of Missouri and anassistant professor of clinical medicine.
He was a charter member of the Independence Optimist Club and was Optimist of the Year in 1961 and 1967. He was on the board of directors of the Independence Chamber of Commerce, the Jackson County Sheltered Workshop and the Kansas City Heart Association. He was a member of the Medical Advisory Board of the Kansas City Diabetes Association, the Medical Advisory Board of the Kansas City chapter of the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation, the Sister City Committee for Independence. He was president of the Independence chapter of People to People. He was a chaplain and committee member of Boy Scout Troop 278 and was an examiner for Life and Eagle boards of review for the Scouts. He was on the board of Outreach International from 1987 to 1992.
He was a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He was a high priest and was assistant pastor of the Pleasant Heights congregation, was a member of the Santa Fe Stake and Center Stake high councils, was a member of Missions Health Foundation, and was on the Committee for Family Ministry for the RLDS World Church. He was a member of the Christian Medical Society and was a member and officer of the the RLDS Medical-Dental Association since its inception in 1957.
He is survived by his wife, Catherine, of the home; a daughter, Karen Sparkes, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; three sons, Ron Link, Independence, Richard Link, Lee`s Summit, and Tim Link, Olathe, Kan.; a brother, Emerson Link, Omaha, Neb.; and eight grandchildren.
Visitation is from 6:30to 8 p.m. Sunday at Speaks Suburban Chapel. Services are at 10 a.m. Monday at the Pleasant Heights RLDS Church. Entombment will be in the Mound Grove cemetery.
The family asks that contributions be made to Outreach International.
BARNEY R. RUSSELL JR.
Barney R. Russell Jr., 62, Independence, died Thursday, Feb. 13, 1997, at his home.
Mr. Russell, son of Barney and Pearl Russell, Kansas City, was born May 10, 1934, in Kansas City. He had worked for Business Men`s Assurance Co. of Kansas City, as a switchman for Contel Telephone Co. and as a parts person for Sears. He joined the Air Force in 1956 and retired in 1976 as a technical sergeant. He married
the former Barbara Mather. He was a member of the Coleman Baptist Church of Peculiar, Mo.; VFW Post No. 4347 in Drexel, Mo.; and the American Legion in Independence.
On Aug. 11, 1990, he married
the former Linda L. Agee, Independence.
Survivors include his wife; a brother, Charles Herbert Russell, Kansas City; two adopted sons, Kenneth Russell, Atlanta, and Jeffery Russell, Springfield, Kan., and two natural children, James "Randy" Russell, Lee`s Summit, and Dena R. Russell, Spring Hill, Kan.; two stepdaughters, Roxanne Weitz, Independence, and Arvolene Rae Kehoe, Harrisonville, Mo.; and 16 grandchildren.
Services will be 1 p.m. Monday at Speaks Suburban Chapel. Burial will be in Oak Ridge Memory Gardens. Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the chapel.
SADIE AMELIA WILLIAMS
Sadie Amelia Williams, 92, a longtime resident of Blue Springs, died Friday, Feb. 14, 1997, in Broken Arrow, Okla.
Mrs. Williams was born in Coffey, Mo. She lived in Blue Springs for 55 years. She was an employee of the Blue Springs Ben Franklin store. She was a member of First United Methodist Church, the Eastern Star, American Legion Auxiliary, the Live Oak Rebekah Lodge and the Blue Springs Historical Society.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lester R. Williams; and three brothers, Hubert O. Landes, Ray Landes and Russell B. Landes.
She is survived by her daughter, Phyllis Ann Campbell, Broken Arrow; four sisters, Goldie Clemmons, Blue Springs, Myrtle Merritt, Kansas City, Virgie Stumpff, Mission, Kan., and Aletha Luther, Macon, Mo.; a brother, Fay Landes, Mesa, Ariz.; two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Services will be 10 a.m. Monday at Webb-Freer Chapel in Blue Springs. Burial will be in Blue Springs cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday.
