Doris M. Lisenby

Doris Marie (Wells) Lisenby passed away November 8, 2022.  Doris was born February 28, 1930 in Emporia Kansas, to Dean and Ruth (Anderson) Wells (both deceased). Additional parental figures in her life were neighbors Dr. John “Pappy” and Ruth “Mom B” Breukelman (both also deceased). Growing up, Doris participated in Job’s Daughters and Eastern Star, took dance and piano lessons, and was a cheerleader. She graduated from Emporia High School in 1947 and Emporia State Teacher’s College (now University) in 1951, where she was a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha social sorority, and several university groups. She was employed in various departments at the Broadview Hotel throughout college years, then became Secretary to the Principal of Lowther Junior High in Emporia in 1951.

That year she met George V. Lisenby of Walnut Grove, Missouri and they married on December 30, 1951. The couple moved to Kansas City, Missouri in 1952 for George’s employment with Otis Elevator Company, where he worked for the next 40 years, before retiring and then succumbing to cancer in 1990. The house they bought together in 1954 and improved upon over several years for their growing family was Doris’s home for 68 years. Neighborhood friendships developed there continue today with the surviving members of the “Westbrook Homemaker’s Club”. The family home sold in July 2022, when Doris had entered assisted living at Cross Creek -- Lee’s Summit.

Doris was an active member of Ivanhoe United Church of Christ in Raytown, Missouri since 1957. She belonged to and served in numerous offices for Church Women United; American Association of University Women; Shepherd’s Center of Raytown; Raytown Arts Council; American Legion Auxiliary Unit 596 and Fifth District; Salon #764, Eight and Forty. She was a 28-year volunteer at Kansas City Hospice and a 22-year volunteer at the Salvation Army Children’s Shelter, among other occasional volunteer events.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister and brother-in-law, Peggy and Warren Keeler, her husband George and his two brothers John (Phyllis) and Jim (Nina), her son Jeff Lisenby, and her son-in-law, Steve Lockington. Survivors include daughter Jenny (Lisenby) Lockington, daughter-in-law Pam (Kelsay) Lisenby, five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson.

Visitation will be 12PM, with services to follow at 1PM, Tuesday, November 22 at Park Lawn Funeral Home, 8251 Hillcrest Rd., Kansas City, Missouri; burial in Memorial Park Cemetery. Following the Celebration of Life and interment at Park Lawn Funeral Home November 22, 2022, a reception will be offered at Ivanhoe United Church of Christ, 6512 Woodson Road, Raytown, Missouri. Donations in lieu of flowers may be given to Ivanhoe UCC or to Kansas City Hospice (https://www.kchospice.org/donation/). The family gives special thanks and recognition to Doris’s dear friend Mary Zahner Bauer for her extraordinary loving care and assistance over the past couple of years of diminishing health. Thanks to all in attendance at the service and for the kind words and support shown at this time.

Visitation will be 12PM, with services to follow at 1PM, Tuesday, November 22 at Park Lawn Funeral Home, 8251 Hillcrest Rd., Kansas City, Missouri; burial in Memorial Park Cemetery. Following the Celebration of Life and interment at Park Lawn Funeral Home November 22, 2022, a reception will be offered at Ivanhoe United Church of Christ, 6512 Woodson Road, Raytown, Missouri. Donations in lieu of flowers may be given to Ivanhoe UCC or to Kansas City Hospice (https://www.kchospice.org/donation/). The family gives special thanks and recognition to Doris’s dear friend Mary Zahner Bauer for her extraordinary loving care and assistance over the past couple of years of diminishing health. Thanks to all in attendance at the service and for the kind words and support shown at this time.