Laird A. Donnelly

Laird Allen Donnelly, 75, Oak Grove, MO, passed away on November 7, 2021. Laird was born May 6, 1946 in Mount Holly, NJ to William and Anna Hughes.

On May 6, 1973, Laird married his beloved wife Dorothy June Wayman. They had three children: William, Jessica and Alexandra.

Laird graduated from Rancocas Valley Regional High School, Mount Holly, NJ in 1963. After high school he went on to attend college at the University of Connecticut but soon realized it was not for him. After several trips out west with his mother and brother, he decided to attend Park College in Parkville, MO. He loved Park College and graduated with a degree in Sociology. Laird was also offered a scholarship to Oxford in England to study Archaeology but ended up enlisting into the Army and deployed to Vietnam. After his service in Vietnam, Laird returned to the Parkville area and began working at Dolgin’s in North Kansas City, MO. It was here that he met his future wife, Dorothy June Wayman. Laird also worked at Payless Cashways Lumber Company as a corporate trainer and Wagner Interior Supply Company in purchasing of Armstrong products. After retirement, Laird worked for the Oak Grove, MO school district as a bus driver. He also worked at the post office in Oak Grove, MO.

Laird had many hobbies throughout his life. He loved music. He played clarinet in the marching band and sang in a barber shop quartet as a young lad. He loved to watch his kids and grandkids play in the band. He enjoyed playing racket ball, leathercrafting, home remodeling, woodworking and hunting. He loved to watch the races, whether it was at the dirt track in Riverside, MO or formula one on tv, with his good buddy John Hamilton. He loved to watch and play golf with his son, William and cousin, Gene Wayman. Laird was also involved in scouting with his son and grandsons. He was a member of the Tribe of Mic-O-Say. Here he shared his love of camping and taught many how to pitch a tent and build/tend to a campfire. He spent many summers at scout camp with his son and would visit his grandsons at scout camp as he got older.

Family was everything to Laird. He always supported his children and grandchildren in their wild adventures, whether he agreed with them or not.

He didn’t know many strangers. If you showed up during mealtimes, you had a full plate of food and you left with a full belly.

Laird was preceded in death by his parents William and Anna Donnelly; brother Neil Donnelly; nephew Neil Donnelly Jr.; and brothers in law William and James Wayman. He is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, June; their three children: William Donnelly, Jessica Parvin and Alexandra Angel; five grandchildren: Reggie Kanagawa, Lance Parvin, Jacob Parvin, Colton Angel and Kayley Angel; brother in law Hugh Wayman (JoAnn), sister in law Pat DelVacchio (Paul); sister in law Sheri Wayman and countless nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He also leaves behind his best buddy, his dog Molly and his miniature horse Dusty Dude. He will be missed by all.

Visitation will be 12PM, with services to follow at 1PM, Tuesday, November 16 at Park Lawn Funeral Home, 8251 Hillcrest Rd., Kansas City, Missouri; private burial in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Visitation will be 12PM, with services to follow at 1PM, Tuesday, November 16 at Park Lawn Funeral Home, 8251 Hillcrest Rd., Kansas City, Missouri; private burial in Memorial Park Cemetery.