Ruth "Stormy" Shank

Ruth “Stormy” Shank, 100, of Lenexa, KS joined her Lord on September 6, 2019.  Stormy was born in Centralia, MO on April 22, 1919, the second of two children of Alvin and Zella Stormont.

Stormy attended many schools throughout Missouri as she grew up and then attended Central Missouri State University and earned an undergraduate degree in Education and Music.  Later, she earned a master’s degree in Creative Dramatics from UMKC which she put to good use even on a normal day as friends will tell you.  With a strong love for teaching kids, Stormy taught elementary kids at Katheryn Carpenter Elementary, Valley View Elementary, Tomahawk Elementary and substitute taught at various other schools for over 25 years before retiring.

When she wasn’t teaching school during the summers, she couldn’t resist the desire to continue to teach and be an inspiration to kids of all ages while acting as a summer camp leader at Leawood, KS summer camp for over 30 years.  Often teaching kids of the kids that she originally taught many years before which brought her happiness.  She would also escape most weekends, when there wasn’t a party to attend or host, to the Lake of the Ozarks with her husband Les and would enjoy long weekends with friends and family for over 30 years.

To say that Stormy lived her life to the fullest simply wouldn’t be saying enough.  She could find good in everything and everyone.  After all, it was always time for a glass of wine in her mind and she enjoyed hosting parties even at a moment’s notice.  She just had to remember where she stashed the crackers and relishes for the party to be on.  There weren’t many holidays that didn’t get celebrated on her calendar which included: Birthdays, Christmas, Valentines, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, New Year’s, Anniversaries and more.  But let’s not leave out Groundhogs Day, Bastille Day, Cinco de Mayo, St. Patrick’s Day, Santa Lucia, the May Pole Dance … and the list goes on.  Always living life and bringing happiness to those around her.

She was a devoted Christian and attended Village Presbyterian Church ever since joining the church and sang in the choir for over 55 years.  During this time, she even traveled with the church choir and performed in Europe and at Carnegie Hall.

Stormy was always creative and coming up with either new fun ways to teach kids or somehow talking people into performing some silly skit during a party or even out in public somewhere. Life was always a grand stage for her to perform or to simply show off her legs to anyone who was looking.  Performing is what she enjoyed, and she enjoyed Starlight Theatre each summer for over 50 years without ever missing a show since opening night of 1951.

Stormy was preceded in death by her parents Alvin and Zella Stormont; brother Lee Stormont; husbands Les Shank and Kenny Kresse; and son Lt. Gary L. Shank. She is survived by her daughters Carol McGrane and Debi Anderson; five grandchildren (Tracy DeVoe-Letzelter, Doug DeVoe, Dan DeVoe, Issac Anderson, Gabe Anderson); 4 great grandchildren (Emily Gaddy, Sarah Henley, Steven Letzelter, Laura DeVoe); 3 great great grandchildren (Grey DeVoe-Rutledge, Grace Lynn Gaddy, Lynette Henley).

VISITATION:

Place: Johnson County Funeral Chapel

When: Friday September 20, 2019 at 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Address: 11200 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, KS.

CELEBRATION OF LIFE CEREMONY:

Place: Village Presbyterian Church

When: Saturday September 21, 2019 at 11:00 AM

Address: 6641 Mission Rd., Prairie Village, KS.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to Village Presbyterian Church.

While Stormy has been blessed with wings above, remember, we all shall meet again and toast the new life and celebrations that she is now leading in heaven.  God Bless … You Will Be Missed and Always Remembered.  Cheers!