Melodia Whitmore's Obituary
Melodia Kay (Cookie) May Whitmore, 56, of Lenexa, KS passed away at her home on May 17, 2014 following a long and courageous battle with cancer. Funeral services will be held Friday May 23, 2014 at 11 am at Morgan Street Baptist Church in Boonville. The visitation will be held from 10-11 am at the church on Friday. Another visitation will be held Thursday, May 22, 2014 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm at Lawrence A. Jones Funeral Home at 1800 East Linwood Blvd. in Kansas City, Missouri
Melodia was born November 1, 1957 in Boonville, Missouri, the daughter the late H. T. May and Estelle Jackson May.
Melodia graduated from Boonville High School of Boonville Missouri in 1976. After that she attended the University of Southern Illinois in Carbondale IL where, in 1980, she earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Speech Pathology-Audiology. From there, she transferred to the University of Missouri at Columbia MO and earned her Master of Science Degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 1982. She has continuously been nationally board certified by the American Speech Language Hearing Association since 1982.
Melodia worked in the states of California, Missouri and Kansas in several private and public schools, convalescent and rehabilitation hospitals as well home health services. She most recently retired from the Shawnee Mission School District in Shawnee Kansas due to failing health.
She joined Boonville Morgan Street Baptist Church at an early age. While a member there she was a pianist at both Morgan Street and Bethel A.M.E. Church in Speed Missouri. She was most recently a member of Oak Ridge Missionary Baptist Church in Kansas City Kansas.
Melodia married Michael G. Whitmore, the absolute love of her life in her parent’s backyard on September 8, 1985 and two children joined their family, Jared Alexander and Michaela Breanne.
Her father, H.T May, preceded Melodia in death. Her loving and devoted husband Michael of nearly 29 years, her son Jared, and daughter Michaela, all of Lenexa, KS, survive her. In addition she is survived by her mother Estelle May of Boonville, MO; sister, Kathy May of North Kansas City, MO; brother Tom (Jennifer) May of Columbia, MO; sister Sherry Chapman of Columbia, MO, sister-cousin Ninette (Frank) Campbell; uncles Melvin (Charlotte) Butler, Marvin (Samantha) Butler, Orlando Coleman; aunt Etta (George) Webb; mother-in-law Levora B. Whitmore of Kansas City, MO; brothers-in-law Byron Whitmore Sr. of Raytown, MO; Calvin Whitmore III of Kansas City, MO; sister-in-law Marshia Torres of Henderson, NV; nephews Holwell (Kasey) May, Jeremiah Baker; nieces Brittany May, Morgan Tinsley, Ranika Chapman and great niece, Nia Rose May and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Melodia will be fondly remembered for her special teaching talents for working with children, especially children with special needs; often using her own funds to purchase supplies and games to enhance learning. She loved to collect cake and desert recipes and create tasty treats from them. She loved making crafts for gifts and to decorate her home.
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