Mary "Elaine" Drury

Mary “Elaine” Drury, 88, of KCMO, formerly of Stover, MO, passed away peacefully May 12, 2023 at her daughter’s home in Kansas City, MO where she had lived for almost the past seven years.

Elaine was born January 13, 1935 to Lewis Parry and Mary Olive Edwards Jackson in Independence, MO, the 3^rd of 4 daughters. Elaine spent most of her childhood in Independence, with 8 years on a farm in Holden, MO, then moving back to Independence, graduating from William Chrisman High School in 1952. She then attended and graduated from Kansas City Business College the same year. Elaine was a bookkeeper at heart, working at GMAC in KCMO & El Paso, TX; KROD Radio in El Paso, TX, AT&T; the Board of Trade Building; and Barlett Grain & Company, all in KCMO.

Elaine married James F. Drury Jr. on her parents 40^th wedding anniversary, May 27, 1966 in Benton County, MO. She spent the next 50 fifty years as a farmer’s wife; gardening, canning and freezing everything possible. And still kept the books! Elaine was a wonderful cook, teaching her daughters to cook for the hay crew as they grew up. She also loved working in the hay field along side Jim. He did the cutting, she raked, then he and Fred baled.

Elaine and Jim were married 50 years and 16 days when he passed away June 12, 2016. Since then Elaine has sold the farm and moved in with her daughter and son-in-law, Connie and Jay Lewis, in Kansas City, MO.

The past 6 plus years have been a blessing to all. Elaine got to do many things she had never done or hadn’t done in over 50 years. In October of 2016 Elaine went on vacation to Denver, CO with her daughter, Connie, and Elaine’s niece, Marsha Rodriquez. She went to the zoo numerous times, to a Royals’ baseball game, and to the movies. In 2020 Elaine and Connie went on a Ladies’ Retreat to Eureka Springs, AR, and saw the Passion Play with a group from their church, The Moment of Truth Bible Baptist Church. Then in 2021 she and Connie went with the group again from their church, to see Noah’s Ark in Kentucky. What an amazing trip!

Elaine was a member of The Moment of Truth Bible Baptist Church in Claycomo, MO. Baptized January 1, 2019. She absolutely adored Pastor Phillip Coonce and his mother, Shirley Coonce, along with all of her church family. Elaine loved the Lord, her family, and her church family. And she was so loved by everyone who met her. She loved going to Sunday School, church, Bible studies, Prayer Breakfast and fellowshipping with her church family. She loved going to her “Knitwits” group, though she didn’t knit, only crocheted. Elaine LOVED crocheting (6 days a week, never on Sunday) and putting jigsaw puzzles together. In the 6+ years she was in Kansas City she made 108 afghans and gave them all away. She loved listening to music at the Nutrition Site in Versailles and visiting with family; seeing and playing with her grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren; riding the motorcycle with her son-in-law, Jay; playing with the family dog, Dodi Bean and cat, Bob, Just Bob. Elaine really loved the country life of being a farmer’s wife of 50 years, especially raking and baling hay with the A and B John Deere tractors for about 45 years. But she also loved the past 6+ years of city life with her daughter, Connie, and her family. She always said “she saved the best til last”.

Elaine is survived by her daughter and son-in- law, Connie and Jay Lewis, KCMO; her son, Fred Drury, Everton, MO; 5 grandchildren, Karen Young, Oak Grove, MO; Pete & (Ella) Goans, Baldwin City, KS; Tyler & (Marti) Scharnhorst, KCMO; Amy & (Jordan) Parks, KCMO; and Olivia & (Ryan) Luna, Oak Grove, MO; 2 step-grandsons, Jason & (Shanna) Lewis, Platte City, MO; and Jacob & (Drew) Lewis, KCMO; 19 great grandchildren with another on the way; 1 sister, Shari Edwards, Morgan County, MO; 1 step-sister, Ina Urness, Morgan County, MO;1 nephew, Russell & (Sharon) Barbour; 3 nieces, Pam Coontz; Marsha & (Joe) Rodriquez; and Pat & (Armin) Meyer. All of whom she loved dearly.

Elaine was preceded in death by her parents; an infant sister, Marjorie Lucille Jackson; her husband, Jim; her daughter, Terry Ann Drury; and her sister, Helen Barbour Kephart.

Per her wishes Elaine will be cremated. Services will be on May 21^st, 2 PM for visitation, service at 3 PM, at Moment of Truth Bible Baptist Church, 310 S Randolph Rd, Claycomo, MO.

Burial of her ashes will take place on a later date in the Stover, MO Cemetery.

Elaine was so very loved and will be greatly missed.