Ellen A. Gayhart, 89, of Warrensburg, Mo., died Friday, Sept. 20 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., surrounded by her family.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Warrensburg with Father Joseph Miller officiating. Pallbearers will be Rafael Ramirez, Leo Beardslee, Joe Good, Tom Kerber, Brian Maloney and Charles Roy Parker.
Interment will follow at Warrensburg Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 23 at Sweeney-Phillips & Holdren Funeral Home in Warrensburg.
She was born Nov. 10, 1923, in Mexico, Mo., the daughter of Thomas and Addie (Miller) Donnelly.
She was united in marriage to Mansel Burton Gayhart on Aug. 27, 1943, in Fort Knox, Ky. He preceded her in death on Aug. 27, 2012.
Ellen graduated from St Brendan’s Parochial School in 1941 in Mexico, Mo. Ellen enjoyed working as a salesperson for 15 years at the J.C. Penney store in Mexico. After moving to Warrensburg, she became co-owner and checker at Gayhart’s I.G.A. store. When Mansel and Ellen sold their store in 1969, Ellen taught preschool and was co-owner of Humpty Dumpty Preschool. She later worked as a secretary for Gayhart American Family Insurance Agency for 19 years until her retirement. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Warrensburg for 51 years. Ellen was a member of the Warrensburg American Legion Post 131 Auxiliary for more than 50 years and a member of the ABC Club in Warrensburg. She enjoyed various card games, was an avid reader, and was a member of several bridge clubs. Ellen loved spending time with friends and family and particularly enjoyed going on trips with others.
Ellen is survived by her two daughters, Cindy Burton and husband, Raymond, of Warrensburg; and Kelly Gayhart, of Lee’s Summit, Mo.; three grandchildren, Brent Burton and wife, Laura, of Springfield, Mo.; Brian Weeks and Leanna Weeks, both of Lee’s Summit; two great-grandchildren, Genevieve Mae Burton and Archer Wesley Burton, both of Springfield, Mo.; and one sister in-law, Nadine Dandona, of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
She was also preceded in death by her parents, one infant brother, Tom Joe Donnelly; one brother, Charles Donnelly; and one sister, Ada Lee Parker.
Memorial contributions are suggested to Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Warrensburg and can be left in care of the funeral home.