Janice Gunn

Janice E. Lockhart Gunn, 62, died Friday, July 11, at her home in Kansas City, North. She was born in Carthage, Mo., to George and Louise (Whitaker) Lockhart. Her father, a teacher, coach and administrator, and the family moved from one small town to another across Missouri following his profession. They eventually ended up in Platte City where she graduated from high school. While in high school she was a candidate for homecoming queen, a cheerleader, a majorette and played shortstop on the girl’s softball team. After graduating from high school, she had several different jobs and ended up working for E.J. Ross, a prominent employment agency in Kansas City. Eventually she purchased that company. She and her husband, Michael, were married in July 1981; she retired from E.J. Ross in 1982, shortly before the first of her three children was born. In 1996, she opened Home Embellishments, a contemporary local art shop in Parkville, and was instrumental in the resurgence of historical downtown Parkville. While living at Weatherby Lake, Jan was involved in a great number of community activities. She was a dedicated volunteer at Renner Elementary School and Plaza Middle School, as well as in the Junior Sailing program at the Lake. She also served on the Weatherby Lake Board of Alderman and was an elder at Parkville Presbyterian Church. She was preceded in death by her father, George Lockhart and her brother, Mike Lockhart. Survivors include her husband, Michael Gunn; her daughters, Jess and Whitaker Gunn; her daughter and son-in-law, Ingle and Eric Lopata; her mother, Louise Lockhart; her brother and sister-in-law, Stan and Taia Lockhart and their children, Aryn and T.L.; her brother, Kenton Lockhart and his daughter Sydney; and her brother-in-law, Dick Gunn ("Uncle Bob"), his wife Sally, and his children, Andy and Sarah; as well as a host of very dear, long-time friends who have stayed by her side. The family will be receiving guests at 2:15 p.m. with a memorial service at 3 p.m. Wednesday, July 16, at Parkville Presbyterian Church, 819 Main, Parkville MO, 64152. Flowers or contributions to the Weatherby Lake Junior Sailing Club, 7200 NW Eastside Dr., Weatherby Lake MO 64152 would be appreciated.

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