Obituaries | April, 2009

Jerry Vern Israel | d. April 30, 2009

Jerry Vern Israel, 52, of Parkville, passed away Thursday, April 30, 2009 at the Kansas City Hospice House.

Jerry was born August 14, 1956, the sixth son of Lewis and Elda Israel of Bethany, Harrison County, MO.

He is survived by his mother Elda, wife Sherri, daughter Leah, step-daughters Brittany Pfleger, Maleigha Michael, and brothers and sister John Irvin Israel (Linda) of O’Fallon, MO; Keith Israel (Michelle) of Monterey, CA; Allan Israel of Bethany, MO; Clark Israel (Kathryn) of St. Clairsville, OH; Harold Israel (Robin) of St. Louis, MO; and Susan Israel Nelson (Richard) of Pullman, WA; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Jerry attended the Westside Family Church in Kansas City, KS and was a member of the United Methodist Church of Bethany, MO where he received his Eagle Scout and his God and Country Awards.

Jerry carried papers for the Saint Joseph News-Press and later worked for the Hy-Vee Supermarket in Bethany, while attending South Harrison High School. After he graduated in 1975, Jerry continued his career with Hy-Vee. He managed Hy-Vee stores in several states and became a Vice-President at the Hy-Vee Corporate Office in West Des Moines, IA. After leaving Hy-Vee, Jerry received training in investments, earned his certification, and held his position as Senior Financial Analyst with Community America Credit Union in Kansas City, MO.

Jerry was an avid golfer who built his dream home at the National Golf Community in Parkville.

Jerry was involved in many community organizations. He served on the Endowment Committee for the BSA Pony Express Council and donated funds to build a cabin for the BSA Camp Geiger in Saint Joseph, MO.

Jerry was among the organizers and charter member of the Northland Sertoma Club in which he served as the organizations first president. He was a member of the Elks, Kansas City (Northland), MO, and of the Masonic Lodge compass Lodge No. 120 of Parkville, MO.

Jerry served as a wonderful role model on caring about others by involving his daughter and step-daughters in raising money for Heifer International, providing water wells in India, education and HIV/AIDS medication for orphans in China, and much more.

His guidance and leadership will be greatly missed.

Funeral Services will be conducted 11:00a.m. Monday May 4th at the First United Methodist Church, Bethany, MO. Burial will follow at the Miriam Cemetery Bethany, MO. The body will be available for viewing on Sunday, May 3rd from 11:00-4:00 p.m. at the Meyers Funeral Chapel Northland, 401 Main St. Parkville , MO 64152 where a celebration of Jerry’s life will be held from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Condolences and memories of Jerry may be shared with the family online at www.meyersfuneralchapel.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Jerry’s memory to Kansas City Hospice, American Cancer Society, and Boy Scouts of America Pony Express Council. (Arrangements entrusted to Meyers Funeral Chapel Northland, 401 Main St., Parkville, MO, (816) 741-0251).

Lois Timberlake | d. April 28, 2009

Lois Timberlake, 96, life long Platte County, MO resident, passed away April 28, 2009 at home surrounded by her family. She was born September 20, 1912 in Waldron, MO to Charles and Ollie (Porter) Babcock. She graduated from Parkville High School in 1934. Lois worked at the telephone office in Parkville, and the relief office in Platte City until her marriage to Ora U. Timberlake in 1937.

She was a homemaker and enjoyed antiquing, bowling and tending to her flower garden. Her flowers and home were featured on a KCPT film about Parkville. She worked many years at the elections and was a nursery attendant for 18 years at the Park Hill Christian Church where she was a charter member.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and a sister, Elizabeth Hughes.

She is survived by a daughter, Judith (Harrell) Green; granddaughter, Lorie (Randy) Green; two great grandchildren, Andy Fink (Missy) and Kristen (Andrew) Mull; three great great grandchildren, Seth Fink, Anna Lee Mull and Bailey Ann Mull; one sister, Melba McAdam.

The family wishes to give special thanks to Grace Hospice, her nurses, Angela, Mellisa, Maria and Chaplain Rick Russell.

Funeral services will be conducted 11:00a.m. Saturday, May 2nd, at the Park Hill Christian Church with Rev. Chris Franklin officiating. Burial will follow in the Platte City Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10-11a.m. at the church. Memorials are suggested to the church.

Lucy Morris | d. April 16, 2009

Lucy Morris, 77, long time Platte County resident, passed away Thursday, April 16, 2009 at her home in Riverside, MO. She was born March 1, 1932 in Kansas City, MO to James A. and Marie Bennett Gresham. She attended school in Parkville and was a Christian by faith.

Her parents, two sons, Virgil G. Thomas and Ronald Theesfeld, and a sister, Rose Selleck preceded her in death. She is survived by a daughter, Carol A. Chapman, Ottawa, KS; three sons, Michael W. Bodenhammer, Ottawa, KS, John R. Selleck, Parkville, MO, E.C. Morris, JR., Independence, MO; five brothers, Donald Gresham, Kansas City, MO, Harold Gresham, Gower, MO, Philip Gresham, Phoenix, AZ, Roger Gresham, Parkville, MO, Russell Gresham, Kansas City, MO and numerous grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 9-10a.m. Monday, April 20, at the Meyers Funeral Chapel Northland, 401 Main St. Parkville, MO 64152. Graveside services and burial will follow at Walnut Grove Cemetery in Parkville. Memorial contributions are suggested to Children’s Mercy Hospital or Shrine Hospital for Crippled Children and may be left in care of the funeral home.

Loretta D. Courter | d. April 10, 2009

Loretta D. Courter, 67 of Parkville, MO passed away Friday, April 10, 2009 at St. Luke’s Northland Hospital in Kansas City, MO. She was born August 13, 1941 in Wichita, KS to Kenneth and Leora Swenson. She graduated from Garden City High School, Garden City, KS. She was a beautician, operating room technician, and chemical handler. Loretta was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, and grandmother. She enjoyed nature, the outdoors, singing, and playing the piano.

After her family, she loved arts and crafts. She cherished hand made things, and family heirlooms. In the same footsteps as her mother and sister, she has blessed her family with many hand crafted works of art to remember her.

Survivors include the love of her life, her husband Larry Joe Courter; sons, Brian J Courter and wife Pamela, of Plattsburg, MO Devin E Courter and wife Jane, Plattsburg, MO, step sons, Michael D. Rank and wife Robin, Kearney, MO, Mark T. Rank and wife Angela, Kansas City, MO, step daughters, Melissa R. Huffman and husband Robert, Shawnee, KS, Melinda M. Rustici, Smithville, MO, step daughter-in-law, Katie Bryant and husband Dale, Smithville, MO, brother, Richard L. Swenson and wife Norma, Omaha, NE, sister, Vickey L. Swenson-Parsons and husband Tom, Broomfield, CO, brother-in-law, Jimmy R. Courter and wife Sylvia, Colorado Springs, CO, sister-in-laws, Mernice Duncan, Dallas, TX, Lila Foree and husband Kenneth, Dallas, TX, 23 grandchildren & great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, cousins and beloved friends.

Funeral services will be conducted 12:00 P.M. Saturday, April 18, 2009 at Meyers Funeral Chapel Northland. Cremation will follow. The family will receive friends from 11:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. on Saturday at the funeral home.

Lynn E. Nacy | d. April 10, 2009

Lynn E. Nacy 65, of Parkville, MO passed away Friday, April, 10, 2009 at North Kansas City Hospital.  She was born December 8, 1943 in Baron, Wisconsin to Lillie Mae Adams.  She preceded her in death.  Lynn attended Rice Lake High School in Rice Lake, Wisconsin.  On September 1, 1973 Lynn was married to James Alonzo Nacy in Rochester, Michigan.

James Alonzo Nacy survives of the home.  Other survivors include a son James Alonzo Nacy II and a daughter Rene A. Meyer.

Private family services to be held at a later date.

Carl E. Wilson | d. April 5, 2009

Carl E. Wilson, 62, Parkville, MO passed away unexpectedly Sunday, April 5, 2009 at his home. He was born January 15, 1947 in Stillwater, OK to Carol M. and June R. Hesser Wilson. They preceded him in death. He graduated High School in Glencoe, OK and earned a Mechanical Engineering degree from Oklahoma State University.

Carl was employed by the United States Department of Defense for thirty one years before retiring in 2002. Following retirement he worked in sales for Sears and H&R Block. He lived in various U.S. cities and also lived overseas in Israel and Malaysia. He served on the board of directors for the Kansas City Small Business Association.

He married Debra Joan Brooks in 1976 in Rockford, AL. They shared over thirty wonderful years together. In addition to his wife Debra, he is survived by a son, Dr. Thomas M. Wilson and wife Crystal, Hastings, NE; two daughters, Cathy S. Wilson and husband Tom, Chickasha, OK and Carol I. Melena and husband Michael, Grand Island, NE; a brother, Jacob Wilson and wife Michele, Lincoln, NE; two sisters, Ella Rose Courtright and husband Ralph, Edmond, OK and Mary Gidre and husband Richard, Glencoe, OK; five grandchildren, Dillon, Katlyn, Ashlyn, Lillian and Matthew.

Memorial contributions in memory of Carl may be made to Synergy Services Inc, (a youth shelter and battered women’s crisis center) and may be left in care of the Meyers Funeral Chapel Northland, 401 Main St. Parkville, MO 64152. There are no scheduled services.