Lee Winkler

Beverly Bernice “Lee” Patch Winkler, 75, passed away peacefully on January 3, 2008 at Cass Medical Center in Harrisonville, MO. She was born January 20, 1932 to Walter Charles Patch and Enid Tweed Patch of Kansas City, MO, who prededed her in death, along with two of her three sisters, Dolores Durham of Colorado Springs, CO and Gloria Patch of Kansas City, MO. Lee graduated from Southeast High School in 1949, then earned an Associate of Arts degree from the Kansas City Junior College in 1951. She was an active member of the University of Kansas City (UMKC) Class of 1953, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree with an interdepartmental major called School & Society. She then traveled the United States extensively and taught for several years at Pershing Elementary before marrying W. Robert Winkler (deceased March 1990) in 1960, building a home and settling in Raytown, where she stayed for 45 years. In the last 2 decades, she was a substitute teacher who worked in every single school in the Kansas City School District. She was a solitary independent lady, a private soul who loved simple things like her home and garden, her devoted dogs Sweetheart & Angel and her precious grandchildren. These were the joys of her life. She was a staunch Democrat who loved nature, the arts, music, reading, writing her own songs and playing her guitar. “Mima” is survived by her 2 daughters, Holly Winkler Griffith and husband Kevin of Harrisonville and Star Winkler Jordan of Kansas City North; and her beloved grandchildren Jacob and Luke Griffith of Harrisonville, Amber and Shelby Jordan of Kansas City North; Crystal Jordan Dyer of Kansas City; and one sister, Virginia McLoughlin of Prairie Village, KS. Private family services were held after cremation. Mima will be sadly missed by those who grew close in recent years. Memorial contributions can be made to The Humane Society, Wayside Waifs, The Nature Conservancy or The American Lung Association.