Michael G Whitmore's Obituary
Michael G. Whitmore, 69, of Lenexa, KS, passed away on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at Advent Health Center in Shawnee, KS. Services will be held on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 11:00 AM at Oakridge Missionary Baptist Church in Kansas City, Kansas. Visitation will be held from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at the church on Saturday.
Michael Glen Whitmore was born on August 29, 1956, in Kansas City, Missouri, to his loving parents, Levora Beck and Calvin Whitmore Jr. He was the second of twins, arriving minutes after his twin sister, the late Marshai Whitmore Torres, on their father's birthday—a particularly special occasion in the Whitmore family. He grew up alongside his older brother, Byron, and later welcomed his younger brother, Calvin III.
Michael attended the Kansas City, Missouri Public Schools and graduated from Paseo High School. During his final two years of high school, he spent his summers participating in special engineering programs at Bendix Corporation and the University of Kansas. He also participated in varsity track. A lifelong lover of music, Michael began playing the trombone in elementary school, continued at Martin Luther King Jr. Junior High School, and later performed in the Paseo High School marching band.
Michael earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and Electronics from the University of Missouri at Rolla. His distinguished professional career included positions with Xerox Corporation Business Solutions in Rochester, New York. He later relocated to California, where he worked for United Technologies Corporation, Database Administer and Oracle Corporation as Database Specialist. Returning to the Midwest, Michael joined the Sprint Corporation, was Director of Computer Services at Johnson County Community Colleges and ultimately retired as Director of Data Management and Engineering for SCL Health, formerly Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, headquartered in Denver, Colorado.
Michael was a devoted son, father, brother, and friend whose curiosity and creativity enriched every stage of his life. In retirement, he embraced a variety of interests, including oil painting, clay modeling and sculpting, gardening, growing herbs and spices, and experimenting with new recipes. He played guitar in his younger years and often spoke about taking lessons and returning to the instrument. Michael enjoyed recording conversations and family gatherings, preserving stories and memories for future generations. Always eager to learn, he explored new and emerging technologies and combined his technical skills with his creative spirit by helping to code a music education app conceived by his brother, Calvin. Through this work, he left a lasting contribution that continues to benefit musicians and students today.
He attended services with his family at Allen-St. John AME Church (formerly Allen Chapel) during his early years, where he sang in the youth choir and actively participated in youth activities. After returning to the Kansas City area, Michael and his wife Melodia became devoted members of Oak Ridge Missionary Baptist Church.
Michael was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 29 years, Melodia Kay Whitmore; his father, Calvin Whitmore Jr.; his twin sister, Marshai Whitmore Torres; his grandparents, Calvin Whitmore Sr. and Zeola Whitmore, and Willard and Ethel Beck; and his cousins, Don Evan Moore and Dwayne Edward Moore.
Michael leaves to cherish his memory his beloved children, Jared A. Whitmore of the home and Michaela B. Whitmore of Lee's Summit, Missouri; his devoted mother, Levora B. Whitmore of Kansas City, Missouri; and his brothers, Byron C. Whitmore Sr. of Raytown, Missouri, and Calvin Whitmore III of Kansas City, Missouri.
He is also survived by his aunt, Marjorie Harrill of Orlando, Florida; his mother-in-law, Estelle May of Boonville, Missouri; his sister-in-law, Kathy May of Kansas City, Missouri; and his brother-in-law, Tommy May of Boonville, Missouri.
Cherishing his memory as well are his nieces, Latasha Tovey, Danielle Torres of Austin, Texas, Morgan Tinsley of Kansas City, Missouri, and Brittany May of Boonville, Missouri; and his nephews, Calvin Whitmore IV (Rachel) of Greenwood, Missouri, Byron C. Whitmore II (Erica) of New York, Dominick Torres of Indio, California, Donald Pierce of New York and Holwell May (Kasey) of Boonville, Missouri.
He also leaves behind his grandnieces, Tavaya Moody, Tiana Whitmore, and Harper Whitmore; his grandnephews, Isaiah Wyrick, Leonta McCaughey, Keshawn McCaughey, Laquincy Moody, Tadeshi Moody, Quimari Sewell, Trevion Sewell, Calvin Whitmore V, Greyson Whitmore, Jacob Whitmore and Jackson Whitmore.
Michael's love of family ran deep, he shared a special and enduring bond with his cousin, Donell McCoy, and also leaves many cherished cousins, nieces, nephews, and countless friends to treasure his memory.
Although our time with Michael ended sooner than we wished, his love, laughter, creativity, and unwavering devotion to family will remain forever in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.
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