Obituaries

INDEPENDENCE - Demetrious Noah Hall, 6, of Independence, passed away Monday, February 21, 2022, at CenterPoint Medical Center in Independence. Demetrious was born on December 14, 2015, in Jackson County, the son of Seth Daniel and Sarah Ellen (Jones) Hall.

INDEPENDENCE - Bonnie Gail Rodman, 75, of Independence, MO passed away February 20, 2022. Visitation will be 1-2 p.m.

INDEPENDENCE - William (Bill) Haynes of Indep, MO passed away surrounded by loved ones February 18, 2022. Bill was born in Evansville, IN. He served in the U.S. Air Force from October 1965 to February 1969. He married Brenda Denton his wife of 54 years December 24,1967, they had two children Tina (Tim) Presely and Gene (Jessica) Haynes. He worked for Lipton Tea as a supervisor for 27 years in the Wishbone Division. He also leaves behind two siblings Robert (Sean) Haynes and Kathie (Del) Woolery along with 8 grandchildren and 10 1/2 great grandchildren and many other nieces and nephews. Family lore is he taught Elvis to play the guitar even though none of us ever saw him play. The family request donations in his honor be made to the American Heart association instead of flowers. Services will be at a later date.

INDEPENDENCE - Lucille WiIloughby, of Independence, Missouri passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by family on February 15th, 2022. Lucille was born on September 15th, 1924 to John and Ethel Fox in Independence, MO. She spent most of her youth on the family farm and graduated from William Chrisman High School in 1943. She met her husband, Glen Dale McKinley Willoughby while she was working as a switchboard operator at Southwestern Bell. They married in 1947 and had three children; daughter Glenna Dooley, son Kenneth “Buzz” Willoughby, and son Lee Willoughby, all of Independence, MO. Lucille was a member of the Real McCoys, an extension club of elementary school room mothers formed in the 1950’s. She thoroughly enjoyed the tradition of holiday parties and weekly coffee with her club that continued for several decades. She was also an Avon Lady for over 50 years, something she was very proud of and enjoyed doing most in her retirement. She loved to read, garden, sew, and cook, and the love she poured into these hobbies will forever be remembered & cherished by everyone who knew her. She enjoyed traveling as well, and never met a slot machine that didn’t like her. Lucille was preceded in death by her husband of 35 years, Glen Dale McKinley Willoughby; her parents, John and Ethel Fox; brothers, Paul and Charles Fox; sisters, Rose Rohrs, Iva Rohrs, and Martha McNeely; and her son, Lee Willoughby. She is survived by her two children, Glenna Dooley (Kenneth), and Kenneth “Buzz” Willoughby, of Independence; one step grandson, Bradford Dooley; three granddaughters, Rebekah Hobson (Chris) of Ozark, MO., Kristin Dooley of Raymore, MO, and Erika Hinrichs (Kelly) of Independence. She is also survived by eight great-grandchildren who were her pride and joy; Skyler Dooley, Summer Shields, Hunter Shields, Abbie Hobson, Logan Hobson, Amanda Stringer, Hailey Aldana, and Mickey Hinrichs. Lucille also leaves behind many special family members she loved dearly: Viola Miller, Butch Fox, Chuck and Nadine Wright, Dawn and Cameron Higbe, and Terry and Helen Wright. Her door was always open with a seat at the table for everyone, her hospitality and heart unmatched. A visitation to honor Lucille will be held on Friday, February 25, from 1-2:00p.m., with a funeral service to follow at 2:00 p.m., both at Carson-Speaks Chapel, 1501 W. Lexington Avenue, Independence, MO 64052. Lucille will be laid to rest at Blue Springs Cemetery in Blue Springs, MO. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www. speakschapel.com (Arrangements: Carson-Speaks Chapel (816) 252-7900)

INDEPENDENCE - David Lee Mullnix, 66, of Independence, MO passed away Sunday, January 16, 2022 at St Mary’s Medical Center in Blue Springs, MO. David was born January 31, 1955 in Independence, MO to Henry and Frances Mullnix. In his early childhood, David spent many a day splashing in the mud puddles of Atherton with his friends. His family soon moved to Blue Mills Road and he never left. David attended Fort Osage High School and graduated in 1973. A few years later, he met Kim at Southwestern Bell, where they both worked as information operators. They married on September 8, 1979 and moved into the new home David designed and built (with help from many friends) and started a family. Their two children, Steven and Chris, enjoyed country life on the“Santa Fe Trail Ranch”as their dad called it. David often joked he raised “cattle, kids and cane.” David had recently retired from his employment at Bayer Corp., and though he enjoyed his time there and made many life-long friends, his heart and soul was at home. Whether hard at work around the farm or helping a friend or neighbor in need; that is what he loved. David was an avid runner, completing three marathons before an accident nearly took his life in 1987. He was a triathlete as well and with God’s touch and strong will, David was able to continue biking for a while after he recovered. David coached assorted sports with his boys, but it was soccer that pursued him. Coaching and teaching kids for some 22 years kept him busy, with many receiving college scholarships; not to mention all the fun and memories. Restoring cars, old wagons, windmills and tractors is a sample of David’s many hobbies and phases. He was an Eagle Scout and provided camping spots on his farm for his nephew, Kevin’s troop. Many things pulled at David’s heartstrings, but none so much as his passion for veterans. He hosted lunches and dinners for his veteran friends, inviting them to “tell their story.” He never missed an opportunity to say “thank you for your service.” David often rode with the Patriot Guards, paying tribute to fallen soldiers and their families. David loved his God, his family and his friends. The many lives touched by David’s kindness and humor are many and far-reaching.

Elizabeth Ann (Allen) Kim was born in 1937 to Francis and Norma Allen in Dawn, Missouri. Her father was a preacher whose calling took them through various communities around the Midwest. She remembered living in Dawn, MO, Sedgewick, KS, and Liberty, MO, with fondness.

INDEPENDENCE - Jerry Dean Brown, 76, of Independence, MO passed away Thursday, February 10, 2022 at the Kansas City VA Medical Center. On Friday, February 18, 2022, there will be a visitation from 12 to 1:30 pm and funeral service at 1:30pm at the Speaks Buckner Chapel at 300 Adams St., Buckner, MO 64016. This will be immediately followed by a short graveside ceremony with full military honors at the Buckner Hill Cemetery. Jerry was born September 12, 1945 in Independence, MO to Richard and Alice Brown and has been a longtime area resident. A retired Buckner businessman and community leader, Jerry was responsible for many of the attractions in Buckner, including the war memorial and train depot caboose. He was Chairman of the Buckner Planning and Zoning Board, and a board member of both the Buckner Chamber of Commerce and Comprehensive Mental Health Services. Jerry had a B.S. degree in hotel and restaurant administration from Oklahoma State University and took his mortuary science training at the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 1973. Jerry was a licensed funeral director and former owner/operator of the Reppert-Brown Funeral Home. He was a former president of the fourth district of the Missouri Funeral Directors Association. A veteran of the Vietnam War as a US Army PFC, he received the Bronze Star and Combat Infantry Badge. Jerry was a deputy representative to the Kansas City VAVS committee and was HVWP’s National Representative to the VAVS National Advisory Committee in Washington DC. He was State Disaster Coordinator/Instructor for the Missouri Funeral Directors Association and supervised the recovery and identification of over 700 remains from the flood damaged Hardin Cemetery, in Hardin, MO in 1993. For these efforts, he received a flood disaster award from Gov. John Ashcroft. In addition to this recognition, he was the recipient of the Civic Leadership Award from the Missouri Municipal League, the Jones Fellow Award from the Independence Blue Valley Lions Club and both the Patron and Pioneer Awards from the Fort Osage school district. Jerry was the founder of the Fort Osage Alumni Association and has worked to preserve the history of the school as the curator of the virtual museum. In his spare time, he loved to cheer on the Kansas City Chiefs with his family and enjoyed attending the many activities of his grandchildren. He is survived by two sons – Michael Brown, his wife Lisa and their son Ronan of Roanoke, TX and David Brown, his wife Jana and their children, Lincoln, Emery and Elle of Oak Grove, MO. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Donna (Brown) Clark and his brother Ephraim Brown. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Fort Osage Education Foundation: https://crm.bloomerang.co/HostedDonation?ApiKey=pub_756c1f64-c5c f-11e9-9f3d-0aa640fb8062&WidgetId=148480. Online condolences may be expressed at www.speakschapel.com (Arrangements: Speaks Buckner Chapel (816) 650-5555)

INDEPENDENCE - Zane Martin Barr, 22 of Independence, MO passed away February 13, 2022. Visitation 12:00-2:00 p.m Saturday, February 19, 2022 at Royer’s New Salem Funeral Home; Independence, MO.