Carole Ann (Calia) Seymour

Carole entered heaven January 21, 2026, after a brief hospital stay and a very full life! She was born March 1, 1935, in Kansas City, the beloved only child of Katie and Emmett Horner. She made her home and raised her family in Raytown, MO.

Carole’s legacy is one of inspiration, kindness, devotion, and steadfastness. She had a strong faith as a lifelong Lutheran and active member of several Lutheran churches in the Raytown area—Christ the King, Blue Ridge Trinity, Peace, and Ascension, where she led numerous evangelism and outreach efforts, served on church councils, sang in choirs, and played handbells. She spent decades teaching children in Sunday School and Vacation Bible School about Jesus, and especially loved teaching junior high/middle school aged teens to help them discover God’s presence in their lives and His plans for their future. So many young people were shaped by her guidance. She lived Proverbs 3:5-6 (“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding…”) and it’s a blessing He let us have her for so long.

Carole enjoyed a successful 25-year career with AT&T as one of the first women to lead programmers in the “new” field of “data processing,” before retiring in 1987 to embrace the role she delighted in most: caring for her “grandbabies.”

Carole cherished her husband of more than 35 years, John Calia, and the life they built together, blending family and faith until he passed away in 2016. John’s daughter, Kathy Calia, and their daughter-in-law, Cheryl, also preceded her in death.

Many people called Carole “mom” or “Grandma Carole”, whether by birth, marriage, or lifelong friendship. She loved to share endless stories of her children and their families – Steve, Bill, and Kathy plus “bonus” daughter, Monja and John’s children Chris and Carey. Her joy grew as each grandchild was added to the family – Shawnna, Jodi, Crissa, Rachel, and Boomer as well as John’s grandchildren Hudson, Dillon, Jessica, Scott, Katie, and Bethany, along with two special additions, Matt and Tyler.

Some are fortunate to have three generations; Carole enjoyed a fourth generation – her great-grandchildren Chevy, Chase, Jaxson, Willa, Hennie, Louise, Elaine, Oscar, Logan and Brandon. Logan’s daughter Lilith added a 5th generation to the family.

Her home, her arms, and her heart were always open. Her light and goodness continue to shine through her family and the countless others she gathered into her life as family.  If you were lucky to know her, you were lucky indeed.

The family extends its heartfelt gratitude to the University Health Lakewood ICU doctors and nurses who cared for her as if she was one of their own family members and made “Miss Carole’s” last week so comforting. Consistent with how she lived her life, Carole will continue blessing others as an organ donor.

A service celebrating her new life with Christ will be held at Ascension Lutheran Church, 4900 Blue Ridge Blvd, Kansas City Mo on Friday, February 6, 2026. Visitation at 10AM, followed by a memorial service at 11AM. In lieu of flowers, Carole’s family suggests gifts in her memory to Ascension Lutheran Church.