Kathleen Douglas

Kathleen (Kathy) Elaine Douglas, 64, of Independence, Mo., passed away on March 11, 2011, at her home with Hospice and her family and friends by her side. Kathy was born on April 12, 1946, at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington DC to Gladys Love Carr Douglas and Gene Leroy Douglas. When Kathy was eighteen months old, she and her mother moved to Independence, Mo., to be with their family and friends. They joined the Stone Church Congregation, and Kathy had been a member there for 63 years. Kathy graduated from William Chrisman High School in 1964. She attended Graceland University, Lamoni, Iowa, for two years and went on to get her BA in Speech & Theatre from Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield, Mo., in 1972; in 1975 she received her Master of Fine Arts in Drama (Scene & Lighting Design) from Stanford University, Stanford, Calif. Kathy’s professional career began by teaching at California State College, San Bernardino, Calif., 1976-1978, and then at Park College, Parkville, Mo., 1978-1981. She left the teaching profession to go to Halls, Inc., and then transferred to Hallmark Cards, Inc., where she was employed for 29 years, retiring in June of 2010. Kathy was a member of the Citizens Advisory Board for the Mid-town Truman Road Corridor Revitalization Project, Independence, Mo., 1994 to present; and a Commission member of Independence Industrial Development Authority, 1995-2004. Her skills and interests include carpentry, painting, sewing, history, reading, music, traveling, going to movies and plays, and being with her family and friends. Kathy also enjoyed her lunches every other month with her classmates from 1964. During her lifetime, Kathy touched many lives and she made a difference. She loved her family, friends and cats, but not necessarily in that order! Kathy leaves her cousins, Bobbi Mier of Grand Rapids, Mich., Irma (Richard) Schwieterman, Gayla (Felipe) Siy, Darrell Meadows of Independence, Mo., James (Robyn) Meadows of Richmond, Calif., Jeff (Helen) Meadows of Victorville, Calif., and Kevin Meadows of Valley Village, Calif.; second cousins Suzan (Tim) Wiemers, Linda Siy of Texas, Jennifer (Ted) Siy of Ill., Alicia Siy of Wash., Stacy (Brandon) Stites of Independence, Mo.; and her lifelong friend Nola Jean (Mick) Banta of Independence, Mo. Kathy is also survived by many other distant cousins, friends, and her Hallmark family, as well as her precious cat Shelby, of the home. A celebration of life will be held on April 12 at Stone Church Community of Christ, 1012 W. Lexington Ave., Independence, Mo. Visitation will be at 5:00 p.m. with her services at 6:00 p.m. and reception afterward at the church. Special thanks to St. Luke’s East, Select Specialty of Western Missouri, and Crossroads Hospice. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Kathy’s favorite charities: Harvesters Community Food Network, Outreach International or Crossroads Hospice.