Obituaries

Velma was born on June 21st, 1922 to Lester and Lucy Ficke. Her brother, Bernard Ficke, was born 2 years before her. They grew up on a farm in West Plains, Missouri. Velma was a favorite of her father, Lester. He would play with her every morning before work and life was good for the Ficke family. Soon, Lester became ill and the doctor performed kidney surgery but he didn’t survive the operation. Velma was only 2 years old when her father died. Lucy was now a widow woman with two young children to raise. She met Harry Brooner and they got married. Harry was also a farmer and it was in a small, southern Missouri town that Velma grew up. There were cows to milk and the chickens laid eggs to gather. Pigs and a goat were also around on the Brooner farm. It was hard work and they were expected to perform their chores if the farm was to survive. There were no buses to catch so Velma had to walk to school each day. This life went on, working and going to school till Velma finally graduated from Willow Springs High School. She thought about college but decided to go visit her aunt who lived in Independence, Missouri. Aunt Mamie was her father’s sister. Velma was a farm girl and not used to the city life. She had a hard time adjusting to the faster paced life. Her aunt helped her and she soon got a job working at Wards department store where she was a typist. That job didn’t work out and she went to work at an Insurance company and settled in to life in the big city. She started going to Stone Church and joined the Zion’s league. She was on the calling committee and it was then she met Arthur Hedges. Arthur was the only son of Arthur sr. and Rose Hedges. Arthur was shy and Velma had to work at getting to know him. Arthur had a nice car and he drove some of the Zion’s leaguer’s around so Velma gradually got to spend time with him. They started dating and Arthur proposed and they got married at Englewood Church on September, 23rd 1950. They lived upstairs in the Hedges house until Arthur could buy a lot and build a house on Partridge Ave. in Independence. Arthur’s cousin was a brick layer and they worked on the house until it was finished. They moved in and the house added two more members to the Hedges family, Sharon and Marshall. They attended church at Gudgell Park Congregation and went there all their lives. Arthur was a printer by trade and worked at Poindexter’s Printing in down town Kansas City while Velma raised the kids and then went to work in the school cafeteria at Truman High School. She worked there for a time then went to Independence Regional Hospital as a bill collector. She stayed there till she retired at the age of 72. Velma volunteered after that at the Community of Christ Temple and also at the Auditorium. She liked at cook and sew and decorated the house for every holiday. She canned fruits and vegetables from the family garden and was always busy doing something. She was active throughout her life and lived to the age of 99 and 8 months.Velma leaves behind a son, Marshall Hedges, a daughter Sharon Arnold ( met her Lord in 2007 ), nephew’s Kenny Ficke and Jim Feagins, a niece Shirley Alexander, grandson’s Patrick Arnold and Kevin Arnold, great grandson’s Jacob Arnold, Matthew Arnold, Daniel Arnold and Colin Arnold, brother-in-law Jim Arnold and lots of cousins and a host of friends. She will be missed. A visitation to honor Velma will be held on Thursday, March 3, from 6-7:30 p.m., with a funeral service to follow at 7:30 p.m., both at Speaks Suburban Chapel, 18020 E. 39th Street, Independence, MO 64055. A graveside service for Velma will take place on Friday, March, at 10:00 a.m., at Mound Grove Cemetery in Independence, MO. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to be made to the American Liver Foundation, 39 Broadway, Suite 2700, NY, NY 10006. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.speakschapel.com (Arrangements: Speaks Suburban Chapel (816) 373-3600)

Darlene Mae Holm entered the gates of Heaven on February 26, 2022 while at Monterey Park Rehab and Nursing Center in Independence, Mo., with family and friends by her side. Darlene was born June 24, 1932 in Lee’s Summit, Mo., to Nye and Lona Nixon, who named her Darlin Nola.

INDEPENDENCE - Michael Erich Anderson, 73, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Thursday, February 24 after a long battle with heart disease and diabetes. Mike was born on July 20, 1948 in West Berlin, Germany. He immigrated to the United States when he was a young child and became a citizen when he was a teenager. He was very proud to be an American. Shortly after graduating from Ruskin High School, Mike enlisted in the Army and was stationed in Panama and South Korea. He felt honored to be able to serve. Mike never met a stranger and was quite a storyteller. He could strike up a conversation with just about anyone. People were drawn to him. If you needed to find Mike, just look for a crowd. Mike began working at Hallmark Cards and remained there for 13 years. Subsequently he worked for many car dealerships in the Kansas City area. He ended his career working for the KC Chiefs. Mike enjoyed so many things: fishing, hunting, a good cup of coffee, expensive sunglasses, making waffles for his grandkids, mowing the lawn, nice cars, making fires in the fireplace, fresh pastries, cowboy boots/ hats, and frozen Ho Hos. However, by far his favorite activity was watching his grandkids play sports. Survivors include his loving wife Susan; his children Brent (Amber), Janna (Marty) and Jaime (Tim); his grandchildren: Mason, Hayden, Holly, River, Parker, Dalton, Dylan and Ridge; his mother Gisela Anderson; brother Pete Anderson; and mother-in-law Gloria Edmondson. Preceding him in death was his father-in-law Don Edmondson and his adoring dog Maggie. Visitation is Tuesday, March 1 from 6 to 8 pm and the funeral is Wednesday, March 2 at 10:00 am at Carson-Speaks Chapel, 1501 West Lexington, Independence MO. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Disabled American Veterans in memory of Mike. Mike’s family would like to extend special thanks to the Kansas City VA staff for their kindness and compassion.

BLUE SPRINGS - Jacquelyn Ann Hobble, 65, a resident of Blue Springs, MO, formerly of Wichita, KS passed away peacefully Wednesday, February 23, 2022 at Oak Grove Nursing and Rehab Inc in Oak Grove, MO. She was born September 16, 1956 to Joseph and Virginia (Burnette) Hunter in Independence, MO.

“Funny how the good ones go, too soon but the Good Lord knows the reason why I guess…….” Carolyn was an amazing mother, grandmother and great grandmother that lived a long, full and amazing life. She is survived by her children Vicky Acreman, Ronald Matherly, Scott Matherly, Lisa Sprouse and Pamela Moore.

INDEPENDENCE - Allen Austin, 79, of Independence passed away from complications due to Parkinson’s Disease on February 15, 2022, at Olathe Hospice House with his wife, Tracy, by his side. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, March 5th, noon to 4p, w/the actual service starting at 1p at Tri-City Baptist Church, 430 NE Duncan Rd, Blue Springs, MO 64014.

Ellen Bundschu Whitman, 94, recently of Albuquerque, New Mexico, passed away on September 24, 2021. She was born on February 24, 1927, in Independence, Missouri. She married her first husband, Arthur Lewis Whitman, in 1945 and obtained a degree in accounting from CW Post College, New York, in 1964. She was one of the first women to work for Ernst & Ernst, one of the major accounting firms in New York City. Upon her retirement, she and her second husband, Stephen Lancaster, moved to a tree farm near Cumberland, Maryland. Upon Stephen’s death, she moved to Albuquerque. During her retirement she enjoyed nature, social activism and stained glass. She is survived by her daughter Katherine Kim Whitman, two sons William and Steven Whitman, and four grandchildren Amorena, Lucia, Paul and Steven. If you would like to honor her memory, please make a donation to the League of Women Voters in her name, as she was an active member throughout her life.