Alice Kay Willey

Alice Kay Willey, 79, of Independence, Mo passed away October 15, 2026.

Celebration of life services will be held from 2:00pm-4:00pm on Saturday, December 5, 2026 at Heartland Cremation & Burial Society, 802 NW Vesper St. Blue Springs, MO.

Alice was born on February 12, 1947 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, to Ruth and Jack Needham. She was raised in Raytown, Missouri, where she grew up alongside her brother, Tim, and her sister, Pat. She would spend her childhood there, attending school from kindergarten through high school, while her natural curiosity led her to explore the world around her.

After graduating high school, Alice moved to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, to attend Southeast Missouri State University. There she lived with her cherished family: aunt Pat, uncle Stan Diehl, and her cousin Louann. Their home provided a place where Alice truly blossomed into her own person, and the love and support they shared remained close to her heart throughout her life. It was during this time that she met and married her first husband, Tim Blattner. Together they would welcome two children, Greg and Kindal, who remained the pride and joy of her life.

Alice’s wandering spirit took her on a journey to Phoenix, Arizona, where she would build a career as an executive assistant. In time, her deep desire to be closer to her family led her to Greensboro, North Carolina. Here she would devote herself to helping raise her beloved grandson, Jack Thomas Buterin. Known affectionately to Jack as “TuTu,” she embraced that role with boundless love and joy. Being his grandmother was one of life’s greatest blessings, and she cherished every moment they shared.

Alice loved listening to jazz music, doing crafts, and spending time with her family and friends. If you asked Alice what she wanted from life, her answer was simple: for people to be kind to one another and to give peace a chance. She was a flower child long before there were flower children; embracing love, acceptance, and friendship as guiding principles throughout her life. Alice truly believed in seeing the good in people and treating everyone with compassion and respect.

Sweet, generous, and endlessly loving, Alice never seemed to meet a stranger. She welcomed people without judgment, believed in the goodness of others, and made everyone feel valued and understood. Though she will be deeply missed by those who knew her, the kindness, optimism, and love that she shared so freely with others will live on in the many lives she touched.

She is preceded in death by: parents, Ruth (Needham) Bryan and Jack Needham; and brother, Tim Needham.

Survivors include: children, Kindal Blattner-Buterin and Greg Blattner; grandson, Jack Thomas Buterin; and sister, Pat Ninneman.

Memorial contributions are suggested in Alice’s honor to: Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) or National Public Radio (NPR).