Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805-2002
GERTRUDE M. VAN TUYL
Gertrude M. Van Tuyl, 93, of Independence died May 3, 2006.
Services were Friday May 5, 2006, at the Groves Chapel.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Wendell, on April 14, 2006; a brother, Delbert Bogue; and a sister, Florence Hughes.
She is survived by her brother, Donald Bogue of Chicago; several nieces and nephews; and in-laws Harold Van Tuyl and Mona Jones of Lee’s Summit.
IRENE E. KURNYTA
Irene E. Kurnyta, 86, passed away peacefully on July 18, 2006 in Henderson, Nevada. She was born in Kent County, Texas, on Oct. 14, 1919 to Jesse Edgar Stracener and Addie Lee Moreland and lived in Chicago, Fayetteville, Ark.; Lee’s Summit, and for the last year of her life in Boulder City, Nevada.
Irene was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Edward J. Kurnyta; and two of her four sisters, Susan Emelin Galle and Eletha Gertrude Mauksch.
She is survived by two sisters, Sylvia Simons of Harrison, Ark., and Edith Louise Payne of Boulder City, her four daughters, Betty Dwyer of Chicago, Ill., Rose Mary Dunn of Lee’s Summit; Margaret Bols of Los Lunas, N.M., and Barbara Manning, of Lee’s Summit; five grandchildren, Jessica, Robert, Dennis, Vikki and Matthew; four great-grandchildren, Joey Elizabeth, Michelle, Ashley and Christopher; and her brother-in-law, John Kurnyta, of Chicago.
Visitation was Sunday, July 23, 2006 at Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, Ill.
Funeral services and burial were Monday, July 24, 2006 at Memory Gardens Cemetery, 2501 Euclid Avenue Arlington Heights, IL.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Irene’s name to the Tommy Jones Memorial Home, West Fork, Ark in care of the Arkansas Baptist Children’s Homes, P.O. Box 552, Little Rock, AR 72203; erh@abchomer.org.
DOROTHY IRENE COOPER
Dorothy Irene Cooper, daughter of Howard and Emily Lynn Cleton, was born March 28, 1933 in Harrisonville, Mo. She departed this life July 22, 2006 at the Lee’s Summit Hospital. She turned 73 last March.
She spent the first part of her lifetime in Harrisonville and graduated from the Harrisonville High School in 1951.
She was united in marriage with Mr. James Cooper on May 27, 1955. They were married at the Baptist Church parsonage in Pleasant Hill.
The Coopers lived in Pleasant Hill prior to moving to Lee’s Summit in 1960.
Dorothy enjoyed collecting many things. She especially loved collecting thimbles and had several thousand in her collection.
Over the years, she had worked at the Unity Farm, Velvet Freeze, the old Matco Dime Store and Marion Labs. She also enjoyed the time she spent babysitting.
She was preceded in death by her parents and by her sister, Delores Morris.
She leaves her husband of 51 years, James Cooper, of the home; her son, Larry Foote, of Kansas City, Mo.; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; other relatives and many good friends.
Services will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 26 at the Stanley & Son Funeral Home in Pleasant Hill. Family will receive friends one hour prior to services at the funeral home; burial in Pleasant Hill Cemetery.
(Arrangements: Stanley & Son Funeral Home, 203 N. Armstrong in Pleasant Hill)
DIANE L. BLACK
Diane Louise Black, 67, of Lake Lotawana was born Aug. 1, 1939, to Ernest C. and Estella B. Black. She passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family on Aug. 14, 2006.
She lived her early years in suburban Clay County and North Kansas City, Mo. She graduated from North Kansas City High School in 1957 and from the University of Missouri–Columbia in 1961. Later she earned a master’s degree from Central Missouri State University at Warrensburg.
Diane taught physical education, coached girls cross country and tennis, and directed cheerleading at Lee’s Summit High School where her 30 years of teaching influenced the lives of more than 9,000 students.
Her retirement in 1991 was followed by more than a decade of teaching homebound students. Diane coached the first Lee’s Summit High School girls cross country team in 1976 and was commended for 15 years of excellence in cross country coaching in 1990.
She was recognized by the Lee’s Summit School District in 1984 as Cross Country Coach of the Year and in 1987 as the Missouri–Metro Coach of the Year by the Greater Kansas City Area Cross Country Association. Diane was commended by Lee’s Summit Parks and Recreation for outstanding service in the pursuit of excellence. Diane was presented with a commendation by the R-7 Board of Education which read:
"Your leadership qualities in coaching girls cross country instills a sense of teamwork and sportsmanship as well as encouraging individuals to strive for highest personal goals. We appreciate you."
Following residence of a few years in Kansas City, Mo., Diane moved to Lee’s Summit where she lived for 20 years. In 1984, she moved to Lake Lotawana where, throughout the years, she has entertained untold numbers of friends, family, neighbors, classmates and former students, all of whom have continued to visit her in a constant stream of recent months.
She was a member of Lee’s Summit Christian Church, P.E.O Chapter LJ, Missouri Yacht Club, Lake Lotawana Social Butterflies, board of directors of Lee’s Summit Social Services, Kappa Kappa Gamma, University of Missouri Extension Council and University of Missouri Alumni Association as a life member.
While family and friends were always at the center of Diane’s life, she expanded her world with every trip in this country and numerous trips abroad. Diane cherished life among her many friends at Lake Lotawana and the opportunities it afforded her to share the pleasures and lessons of lake living, especially with her nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. They learned from their aunt Diane not only lessons about life on the lake but also living life to its fullest and fairest.
She leaves her close companion, dear friend and travel partner of 45 years, Gail Bolin of Lee’s Summit; a brother, Wayne V. Black and wife, Ilze McLean of Virginia; sisters, Dona Sue Cool of Columbia and Frances "Cecilia" Garrent and husband, Robert of Kansas City; nieces and nephews, Sara Scott Cool of Liberty, Gretchen Black Weible and husband, Tom of Lawrenceville, Ga., Christina Ann Black and husband, Carsten, of Wierwille, N.Y., Andra Kathleen Bessenbacher and husband, Steve, of Overland Park, Kan., Brett Zemgals Black of Delaware City, Del., Veronica Marie Garrett and Antonio Jose Garrett of Kansas City; great nieces and nephews, Alexandria Gabrielle Phillips and Izabelle Katerina Abbey of Liberty, Levi Thomas Weible and Emily Grace Weible of Lawrenceville, Ga., and Patrick Wayne Bessenbacher, Michael Edward Bessenbacher and Brian Matthew Bessenbacher, all of Overland Park; an aunt, Clara Long of North Kansas City; cousins, Barbara Stull and husband, Jerry, Vickie Cole, and Ralph "Butch" Long and member of their families; cousins, Miriam Hey Marrs and Lowell J. Renner and members of their families.
Diane will live forever in the hearts and minds of her relatives and an indeterminable number of friends, including her pen pal since 1952, Pat Anderson and her family of Southhampton, England, and former students everywhere.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Coach Diane Black Scholarship Fund through the Lee’s Summit Educational Foundation, 600 S.E. Miller St., Lee’s Summit, MO, 64063.
Visitation will take place at 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., on Friday Aug. 25 at the Lee’s Summit Christian Church. A memorial service will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday Aug. 26, at the church. A celebration of Diane’s life is planned for on Saturday, Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. at the Missouri Yacht Club in Lake Lotawana.
(Arrangements: Cremation Society of Kansas and Missouri, 816-822-9888)
DONALD E. FURNEY
Donald E. Furney, 80, of Lee’s Summit passed away peacefully in his sleep, as was his greatest wish, on Friday, Sept. 29, 2006. He was on the last leg of a journey to visit family in his birthplace of Canton, Ohio.
Born to Donald C. and Edna Furney, he proudly served his country in the United States Army Air Corp. He gave 28 years of service to the Canton Police Department. Upon his retirement in 1978, he moved to this area, where he worked 10 years as a maintenance supervisor at Lee’s Summit Hospital.
Don dedicated his whole life to being of service to others. He always gave of himself, ready with a tool to fix anything broken, a prayer for the highest good or just a big bear hug. He and Ann Marie were actively involved and dedicated students of the Unity ministries. At Unity Village, they performed in the musical performances marking the Centennial celebrations. They made lifelong friends among ministerial students and supported many ministries around the world.
For many years, at the Unity Church of Independence, Don joyously gave generously of his time and handyman talents. The Monday Night Healing Group gave his life purpose, meaning and in the last years — hope in dealing with the challenges that came to his "ever strong to the end" body, mind and spirit.
Don is survived by his loving wife of 35 years, Ann Marie, of Truman Lakewood Long Term Care; his children and their spouses: Dawn Ann and Perry Holloway of Oklahoma, David and Darcia Furney of Idaho, Dale and Laurie Furney of Colorado, Donald J. and Angela Furney of Ohio, Darla and Mike Morris of Ohio, and Lake and Rose Furney of Colorado. Also nine grandchildren; one great granddaughter; two brothers and their wives, Eugene and Bobbie Furney and Wm. Russell and Marge Furney both of Ohio; his sister Sheila Gheen of Oklahoma. Don will be missed by numerous friends everywhere who loved him as a father, brother, teacher and most beloved friend.
A celebration of Don’s life will take place at Unity of Independence Church at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 22. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the church to continue the work that Don loved so much.
EVELYN L. BRUCE
Evelyn L. Bruce, 85, of Lee’s Summit, Mo., passed away on Oct. 18, 2006 at the Jefferson Health Care Center. She was born on Aug. 21, 1921 in Wray, Colo.
She is survived by her husband, Owen; son and daughter–in–law Bill and Vickie; daughters, Marie and Sue; five grandchildren, Brad, Melissa, Bobby, Justin and Nicole; one sister, Lucille Chiddix; and numerous other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will take place at 3 p.m. on Friday Oct. 20, 2006 at the Langsford Funeral Home with visitation from 2 to 3 p.m. at the funeral home; burial in the Lee’s Summit Cemetery.
(Arrangements: Langsford Funeral Home, 115 S.W. Third St., 816-524-3700).
M. ADAM CARNEY
M. Adam Carney, 23, of Lee’s Summit passed away on Oct. 14, 2006. Cremation. A memorial service will take place at 5 p.m. on Monday Oct. 23, 2006 at the Wallace Funeral Home, 422 N. Lake, Pleasant Hill, Mo.
Adam is survived by his fiancée, Erin R. Taylor, and his son, Matthew Steven Carney, both of the home; his mother and step-father, Margaret and David Dearing of Harrisonville, Mo.; his bother Mark Carney, of Lee’s Summit; his maternal grandparents, Hubert and Alice Conn of Lee’s Summit; and many other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his infant son, Justin David Carney, and a brother, Matthew John Carney.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to a fund for Adam’s son, Matthew Steven Carney at United Missouri Bank in Lee’s Summit.
(Arrangements: Wallace Funeral Home, 422 N. Lake, 816-987-2127)
