Obituaries

1935 - 2022 “Don” Matthews, 87, of Independence, Mo. transitioned into the kingdom of our Lord October 27, 2022, while surrounded by family.

Ina Belle (Tilley) Martino age 74 peacefully passed away on the evening of Oct 24 th after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease. She was born on May 18, 1948 in Mountain Home, Ark to Geraldine and Lonnie Tilley. She went to Mt. Home High School but was shy a few credits of graduating so she stayed with family in Cotter Ark and graduated from Cotter High School. In 1968, she followed family to KC in her blue 1965 Chevy Impala. She met and married Ralph Crawford June of 1969 and they were married for nine years. They have 3 beautiful children together. Paula Crawford, Nicole Crawford, and Bryan Crawford. After the divorce Inas focus was on caring for and providing for her children. She was very relieved in 1980 to get a call from the Bendix plant for an interview, It was to be a cook for $8 an hour. Her prayers were answered. Ina, then later was promoted into the bake shop with better pay and also again later transferred out into the plant to work in the custodial department. Ina never missed a day. She knew how blessed she was to have a well paying job to care for her family. While working she met her second husband Alex Martino. They married in 1995. She loved his daughters Terry Kosinski and Michelle Goodnight as if they were her own . Ina leaves behind a beautiful blended family with 10 grand kids and 13 great grands. Ina was very strong in her faith, and truly loved her family. She enjoyed gardening , quilting, and even made quilts for her family. She loved cake decorating and made many a wedding cake for family and friends. She also enjoyed cooking, baking and was dedicated to sending greeting cards on every occasion to her friends and family. Ina is preceded in death by her husband Alex Martino (Sept 8, 2022) her parents Lonnie and Geraldine Tilley and her sister Marsha Berg. Celebration of Life Nov 5 th at Sheldon Goodrich Funeral

Virginia Lellis Durham, 95, of Independence, Mo., passed away on Wednesday, September 14, 2022, at the Village Care Center in Lee’s Summit, Mo. She was born in Independence, Kan. on May 15, 1927, to Opal (Zenor) and Wm Howard Flanagan and grew up in Wayside, Kan. She graduated from Wayside High School and then married George E Durham in August 1943, who was serving in the US Air Force. They were married for 56 years until his passing in 2000. They had one daughter, Georgia Lee, who passed away in 2003. The family resided in Independence, Mo. for over 50 years. Virginia was employed 33 years as an insurance secretary and retired in 1982. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter, brother and sister. Her memory will carry on with her two grandchildren Pamela (Bryan) Baker and Diana (Scott) Lohman, four great-grandchildren Austin Clinefelter, Taylor Clinefelter, Tyler (Kindsey) Lohman and Kaitlyn Lohman, and five great-great-grandchildren Keegan, Peyton, Brantley, Juliet and Mason Lohman. Graveside services were held at Harrisonville Cemetery on Thursday, September 22 at 2 p.m. Memorial contributions can be made to ALZ.org. To leave the family a special message of condolence, please visit www.pottsfuneralhome.com.

Carl Early Gillespie, Jr., 83, of Independence, Mo., formerly of Lexington, Mo., passed away on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, at home. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 1, 2022, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Walker-Nadler-Fuller Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to Wayside Waifs, 3901 Martha Truman Road, Kansas City, MO 64137. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Walker-Nadler-Fuller Funeral Home, 1720 S. St., Lexington, MO 64067, 660-259-2245. Carl was born on May 16, 1939, in Independence to Carl Early Gillespie, Sr. and Mildred Lorene (O’Dell) Gillespie. He graduated in 1957 from William Chrisman High School in Independence and attended UMKC. He retired from the Metropolitan Community Colleges as a facilities assistant. An avid history buff, Carl was involved in the historical societies in both Lexington, Mo. and Oak Grove, Mo. He was an avid reader and collector of books - an addiction he passed to new generations. He knew how to tell a great story - his poetry and prose could bring a tear to your eye or a full belly laugh. It didn’t matter if you were friend or foe, when he was feeling mischievous, which he often was, you would find yourself the unsuspecting victim of one of his well-planned pranks. Carl was a crazy cat gentleman he loved his cats almost as much as he hated Trump. As a supporter of civil rights, Carl was a lifelong Democrat and ally of humanitarian causes - such as his involvement with Sertoma International. Carl is survived by a brother, Kenneth W. Gillespie who was also born in Independence; two nieces, Kathy Niemeyer of Austin, Texas and Brigette Gillespie of Atlanta, Ga.; a nephew, Kenneth S. Gillespie of Los Angeles, Calif.; and his beloved cats, Romeo and Juliet. Carl was preceded in death by his parents.

John R. (Ron) Gamble, 89, of Rich Hill, Mo., passed away October 29, 2022, at Medicalodge of Butler, Mo. Ron was born January 20, 1933, in Wichita, Kan., to Kenneth L. and Marjorie M. Gamble, the eldest of four children. Ron spent his growing up years in Wichita, Salina, and Concordia, Kan. After graduating from Wichita High School East in 1951, Ron had his leg amputated due to a childhood injury. A year later he attended Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa (1952-53). In the summer of 1953, Ron underwent additional medical procedures. He met his future wife, Virginia Elizabeth (Beth) Gamble, in the summer of 1954 in Wichita. They were married June 3, 1956, in

Gregory Dean Resch, 76, of Sedalia passed away October 26 at his home. He was born January 5, 1946, in Kansas City, Mo., the third son of Evan LaVerne Resch and Frances (Sheetz) Resch.

January 12, 1943-October 15, 2022 Glenda “Sue” (Raffurty) McMurry of Independence, Mo. died unexpectedly at St.