Jay S. Gruver
Full obituaries may be found in the print and/or e-edition of the Weston Chronicle
Obituaries
Weston • Platte County • Missouri
Wilma Martin
Wilma Jean Nash-Martin of Weston, MO, went to be with the Lord and was welcomed through the gates of heaven on May 20th, 2020. She was born on July 31st, 1947 in Leavenworth, KS. She was the daughter of Charles William & Sarah May Nash.
Wilma spend 59 years in the nursing field, doing what she enjoyed the most. She retired from the nursing field in 2007.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Sarah Nash; and her brother, Billy Nash.
She is survived by 2 daughters, Peggy Anderson of Platte City, MO and Rebecca Spencer of Leavenworth, KS; 4 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life will be held June 6th, 2020 at 11:00am, at 32375 159th St. Leavenworth, KS. A private interment will be held later.
Marilyn L. Moppin
Marilyn Louise Moppin, 70, of Platte City, MO, passed away Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at the North Care Hospice House in North Kansas City, MO. Marilyn was born February 4, 1950 in Leavenworth, KS to Earl Theodore “Jim” and Elsie Louise (Oberdiek) Moppin.
She grew up in Weston, MO, graduating from West Platte High School in 1968. Marilyn then attended the Career Academy of Medical Assisting College in Kansas City, MO, before becoming a Medical Assistant Instructor herself.
She taught at Concord Career College in Kansas City, MO for over 15 years before her retirement. She was a longtime member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Farley, MO, her family being among the founders and builders of the current church in 1912. Marilyn loved teaching, reading, cooking, and most of all spending time with her grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and brother Ronald Moppin. Marilyn is survived by daughters Tiffany (John) Black and Tami Inojos; grandchildren Anthony Nelson and Tyriq Williams; great granddaughter Scarlett Nelson; sister Peggy (Steve) Tyler; sister-in-law Darlene Moppin; and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. A memorial service and inurnment will be held at a later date.
Condolences and more information may be found at www.rollinsfuneralhome.net Arrangements By: Rollins Funeral Home—Platte City, MO. 816.858.2129
Jay S. Gruver, 79, passed away on May 18, 2020 in Liberty, MO.
Jay was born Oct. 27th, 1940 in Kansas City, MO, an only child, to Lillian and Dean Gruver. He graduated from Shawnee Mission (North) High School in 1958 and later graduated with his doctor of pharmacy from UMKC School of Pharmacy.
He married Vicki Adams in 1962 and together they had 3 children. He owned and operated Key Rexall Pharmacy in Overland Park, KS for 20 years, with a career as a pharmacist spanning over 48 years. His legacy was in supporting the customers he came to know as friends.
He loved to hunt, camp and go off-roading in his Jeep.
He is preceded in death by his parents and son, Andrew.
He is survived by his son Barry, daughter-in-law Catherine Spong, MD, and four grandchildren: Juliana, Winston, Genevieve, and Beatrice; and his daughter, Amy (Anderson), and granddaughter Emma.
No service is planned at this time. In lieu of flowers, donations to the National Kidney Foundation or ASPCA are appreciated.
Arrangements by Rollins Funeral Home, Platte City, MO. 816.858.2129. Condolences may be left at www.rollinsfuneralhome.net
Patrick G. "Pat" Bunge
Patrick G. “Pat” Bunge, 84, of Platte City, Missouri, passed away at home, surrounded by family on May 23, 2020. Pat was born on February 24, 1936, in Cuba, Missouri, the son of William J. Bunge and Edith (Pasch) Bunge.
Pat is survived by his wife of fifty-nine years, Joyce, and his three children, Sharon (Robin Willard) of Sun City Center, Florida; Janet (Shaun) Stock of Weston, Missouri; and Brad (Kerri) of Platte City, Missouri, and two grandsons, Luke and Daniel Bunge. He is also survived by his brother Tom (Patty) of Aurora, Colorado; his sister, Mary (Scott) Bennett of Auxvasse, Missouri; and many cousins, nephews, and nieces.
Pat graduated from Hermann High School in 1954. On a visit to West Platte High School, where his father was principal, he met the love of his life, Joyce Goodlet, in 1955. Pat served in the United States Air Force from 1955 to 1959. He then joined IBM in Kansas City and worked there until his retirement in 1994. Pat and Joyce were married in 1961. They moved to Weston in 1968 and made it their home for the next 47 years, before moving to Platte City in 2015.
Pat was a founder and first president of the Weston Jaycees and served two terms on the West Platte R-II School Board. Pat was always willing to help a neighbor in need. Always an enthusiastic fan, he attended many West Platte Blue Jay games and particularly enjoyed watching his children and grandsons participate in sports. Pat enjoyed reading, photography, wine-making, genealogy, history, working in the yard, and John Wayne movies.
The family would like to thank Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care for taking care of Pat.
A private graveside will take place at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery in Weston, Missouri, with a Celebration of Life to be scheduled later. Condolences may be left on the funeral home website, www.vaughnfuneralhomes.com, and donations in Pat’s honor may be made to KC Hospice & Palliative Care or the West Platte Education Foundation.
Arrangements by Vaughn Funeral Home, Weston, Missouri. 816.386.2281
Emerita A. Farnan
Emerita A. (Brady) Farnan, 97 of Weston, Missouri, died Friday, May 22, 2020 peacefully at her home.
Emerita was born May 19, 1923, on her family’s farm near Guildford, Missouri to John Emmett and Margaret Gertrude Corcoran Brady.
She married Joseph Eugene Farnan on August 12th, 1947 at the Holy Family church in Conception Junction, Missouri.
Emerita devoted her life to her family, her children, her grandchildren, and to her faith.
She taught and inspired thousands of children spanning almost six decades as a Sunday school teacher at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Weston and more than four decades as an elementary teacher at West Platte R-2 of Weston, Missouri.
After retirement and the death of her husband Joe, Emerita began visiting the elderly and sick in area nursing homes to read the Bible and poetry and to lead them in prayer. She continued to do so well into her nineties.
She also served as a reader at Holy Trinity and was an Extraordinary minister of the Eucharist on Sundays and remained a member of the parish Women’s Guild, ironing and cleaning church linen until just a few months ago.
All her life, Emerita was guided by an inner strength and perseverance and a powerful moral compass. She loved deeply, prayed with all her heart and taught and learned with an inexhaustible curiosity. Her children and friends all attest that her prayers were heard and that what she prayed for usually happened.
She was a devoted Catholic who cared more for others than herself and prayed daily for peace and good will. She was a devoted teacher who believed ‘one book, one pen, one child and one teacher can change the world.’ And that the only way to be a great teacher was to love and respect the differences in each child.
Her tireless energy, willingness to accept any challenge and not just hear but understand other’s points of view ceaselessly raised the spirit and care of everyone she touched. Her superpower was to inspire others to believe they could overcome any obstacle and achieve any goal. She made everyone feel uniquely valued.
Emerita’s mother died when she was just 5 years of age.
She learned to bake for her single father and 8 siblings before she was tall enough to reach the table. Her lifelong love of baking has been passed down to her children, and grandchildren and great grandchildren.
After the Depression, the loss of the family farm and World War Two, her father announced he could only send one of his children to college. Emerita volunteered and attended Maryville State College. After marriage and moving to Weston and raising six children of her own, she went back to school and completed her degree at Missouri Western State College in St. Joseph, Missouri in 1971.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Joe, who died in 2004. The next day she wrote a long entry in her diary that concluded. “My dear husband definitely went to the Lord’s table. I have so many happy memories, but I miss him so much. We were still much in love.”
We are sure she has joined him there now and are also thankful for so many memories.
She was also preceded in death by her parents; her granddaughter, Hannah Rue Farnan, grandson, Colby Farnan, and great grandson, Finnegan Adams, brothers: Edmund, Robert and Donald Brady and her sisters Eileen Schieber, Gertrude Schuster, Sr. Margaret Brady, CPPS, Stella Marie Farnan, Rosalie Wilmes.
Surviving are her children; Philip [Betty] Farnan, Richard [Aryn Roth] Farnan, Barbara [Mel] Lott, Patrick [Deann] Farnan, Donald [Cathy] Farnan, and David [Katherine] Farnan, twelve grandchildren: Tina Farnan, Josh Farnan, Sarah James, Emily Viebrock, Eric Lott, Kristen Adams, Erinn Lott, Catherine [Caitlin] Wood, Allison Farnan, Regyn Farnan, Leo Farnan, and Jack Farnan and 9 great grandchildren: Justin Farnan, Athena, Mylina, and Serenity Farnan, Tycik and Zayvin James, Brayden and Eleanor Lott, and Kinslee Adams. She had many nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends. She has a special place in her heart Caitlin Brady, for nieces Judy Myers, Mary Ann Coppersmith, and friends June Kisker, Shannon Egan, Suzanna Bartee, Larry Newman, Susan Wurtenberger and Sharon Groom.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Acolyte Scholarship Fund in care of Bank of Weston.
Visitation will be held from 1-3 pm, Tuesday, May 26 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Weston, MO, followed by a funeral service at 3 pm. A celebration of life will be planned for a later date. Arrangements by Vaughn Funeral Home, Weston, MO. 816.386.2281. www.vaughnfuneralhomes.com
Robert L. Clemens
Robert L. Clemens, Lansing, Kansas, passed away Thursday, May 7, 2020. Bob was born September 7,
1942 in Troy, Kansas to Otto and Irene (Pischer) Clemens. Bob graduated from West Platte High School,
Weston, MO, in 1960. He married Shirley Adair on September 20, 1963.
Bob is survived by his wife Shirley, his children Mark (Chris) Clemens and Julie Clemens, and his
grandchildren Taylor Clemens and Cade Clemens. He is also survived by his brothers Larry (Ruth Mary)
Clemens and Kenneth (Kay) Clemens, his sister Debbie Kirkpatrick and their families.
Bob began his career with General Motors in October, 1963. He retired with more than 52 years of
dedicated service. His GM career was based at the Fairfax Assembly Plant, Kansas City, KS.
He often traveled to GM Headquarters and other assembly plants in the U.S., Germany and Canada where he
gained and shared extensive knowledge of the assembly, design and the launching of new vehicle
models. He was referred to as the “Father of the launch Team” by his co-workers. He was a firm
believer of leading by example and never expected more than he was willing to give himself.
Bob took pride in having a spotless car and meticulously kept lawn. He enjoyed spending time with
family. He often met his siblings for breakfast on the weekends to share stories of the week. He
enjoyed the beach and traveled to Destin, FL yearly.
He was always there to lend a hand for a project.
Being their #1 fan, he was a staple in the stands for the countless events of his children and
grandchildren. Above all, he was most proud of being “Popa” to Taylor and Cade.
A viewing for family and friends will be Thursday, May 14, 2020, Noon-5:00 p.m, at Davis Funeral
Chapel, 531 Shawnee Street, Leavenworth, KS. A private burial is planned.
A gathering will be
announced at a later date for extended family and friends to come together and share their memories
of Bob.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested in Bob’s name to St. Luke’s Mid-America Heart
Institute.
Condolences and special memories may be left on Robert’s online guestbook at
www.davisfuneralchapelinc.com.