1917
Mrs.
2010
Mrs. Kennard
November 8, 1917 — May 1, 2010
Maxine Leckey Kennard, age 92, of Prairie Village, KS died on May 1, 2010 at St. Luke’s Hospital. She was born on November 8, 1917 to Robert Leckey and Nellie Lowe Leckey of Omaha, NE. On February 18, 1940 she married Lee B. Kennard, also of Omaha. They moved to Boston, MA in 1941 where Lee worked for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and Maxine worked as a secretary for Robert McNamara of Harvard University.
Before Lee was drafted to serve in the United States Army in 1943, they relocated to Kansas City, MO, where they lived in the same apartment building as Maxine’s sister and brother-in-law, Werdna and Bud Moran.
Maxine and Lee moved to Prairie Village, KS in 1949 where they raised their three children, Christie, Tom and David Kennard. Maxine and Lee lived in the same house for 61 years and it became a favorite gathering place for neighbors, family and friends of all ages.
In 1953, discontent with being a housewife and playing bridge, Maxine went to work for Stan and Shirley Rose and their fledgling local newspaper, the Prairie Village Scout. Her first assignment was to cover the Prairie Village city council meetings. She sold advertising, wrote and edited stories and eventually became editor of the Plaza Magazine. She worked for Stan and Shirley for 44 years, finally retiring from the Sun newspapers at the age of 80. She loved what she did and devoted herself to it, as she did everything, with all her heart.
She was also a volunteer fundraiser for the American Cancer Society and a charter board member of the American Stroke Foundation.
She was a fiercely loving mother and never missed an opportunity to tell her children how proud she was of them. She was a remarkable woman in many ways, intelligent, capable, funny and indomitable. She leaves a huge hole in our hearts. Her survivors include her children: Christie Lee Kennard (John Mammen), Thomas Burton Kennard (Christi Pitts) and David Bartlett Kennard (Debbie); grandchildren Megan Shihady, Brian Kennard, Zaccary Kyle Kennard (Jessica), Joseph B. Kennard, Daniel B. Kennard; and great granddaughter Zoey Elizabeth Lee Kennard.
Her family wishes to thank her wonderful caregivers of the past year, Michelle Groves, Holly Haskell of Home Instead, Kheng Sok and Stephanie Carr, who made it possible for her to live in the home she loved so much.
Visitation will be on Monday, May 3, 6-8 p.m., D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf Ave. A memorial service will be held at Village Presbyterian Church, 6641 Mission Rd., Prairie Village, KS on Tuesday, May 4, 11 a.m. Donations can be made to the American Stroke Foundation, 5960 Dearborn Street, Mission, KS 66202.
Arrangements by: D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf, Overland Park, KS. (913) 451-1860.
Before Lee was drafted to serve in the United States Army in 1943, they relocated to Kansas City, MO, where they lived in the same apartment building as Maxine’s sister and brother-in-law, Werdna and Bud Moran.
Maxine and Lee moved to Prairie Village, KS in 1949 where they raised their three children, Christie, Tom and David Kennard. Maxine and Lee lived in the same house for 61 years and it became a favorite gathering place for neighbors, family and friends of all ages.
In 1953, discontent with being a housewife and playing bridge, Maxine went to work for Stan and Shirley Rose and their fledgling local newspaper, the Prairie Village Scout. Her first assignment was to cover the Prairie Village city council meetings. She sold advertising, wrote and edited stories and eventually became editor of the Plaza Magazine. She worked for Stan and Shirley for 44 years, finally retiring from the Sun newspapers at the age of 80. She loved what she did and devoted herself to it, as she did everything, with all her heart.
She was also a volunteer fundraiser for the American Cancer Society and a charter board member of the American Stroke Foundation.
She was a fiercely loving mother and never missed an opportunity to tell her children how proud she was of them. She was a remarkable woman in many ways, intelligent, capable, funny and indomitable. She leaves a huge hole in our hearts. Her survivors include her children: Christie Lee Kennard (John Mammen), Thomas Burton Kennard (Christi Pitts) and David Bartlett Kennard (Debbie); grandchildren Megan Shihady, Brian Kennard, Zaccary Kyle Kennard (Jessica), Joseph B. Kennard, Daniel B. Kennard; and great granddaughter Zoey Elizabeth Lee Kennard.
Her family wishes to thank her wonderful caregivers of the past year, Michelle Groves, Holly Haskell of Home Instead, Kheng Sok and Stephanie Carr, who made it possible for her to live in the home she loved so much.
Visitation will be on Monday, May 3, 6-8 p.m., D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf Ave. A memorial service will be held at Village Presbyterian Church, 6641 Mission Rd., Prairie Village, KS on Tuesday, May 4, 11 a.m. Donations can be made to the American Stroke Foundation, 5960 Dearborn Street, Mission, KS 66202.
Arrangements by: D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf, Overland Park, KS. (913) 451-1860.
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