Jill Estelle Arney was born 30 minutes after her twin brother Jack on December 8, 1925. She was born to Wilbur and Eileen Davidson. Preceding her in death are her parents, older brother Kenneth, older brother Donald, and a host of other family and friends. Growing up in Overland Park, Kansas Jill enjoyed the passion of her parents for horses, and was an early participant in the American Royal parade. From an early age the church was an instrumental part of her life. In high school she became active with her parents in Armour Heights Baptist Church. It was there at Armour Heights that the youth group began writing letters to servicemen.
In the fall of 1943 Ercell Arney, stationed in West Virginia at the time, received a letter from Jill Davidson. The correspondence that started that fall day continued for 73 years!
After Ercell was shot down in 1945, briefly interned in a prisoner of war camp, then discharged in June, he came back to the states and Jill and Ercell married on March 23, 1946. Their marriage flourished, and three children were born, Donald Ercell Arney (wife Mary), Nina Jean Arney Maurer (husband Warren), and Charles King Arney.
In January of 1947 they made a life changing decision, Jill and Ercell began attending the Swope Park Baptist Church, now Grace Point Baptist. Jill quickly became involved in many activities. She taught in the Intermediate Department while her children grew, and then graduated to Department Director of Young Adults. She was involved with the Women’s Missionary Union, Training Union, and multiple youth trips. Jill loved to hear the youth group sing. Songs like “Ride the Chariot,” and “Glorious is thy Name,” “Pass it On,” and “He’s Everything to Me” were among her favorites. Jill was ever present with Ercell at worship on Sunday mornings and evenings, Wednesday Prayer Meeting, Revival Services, Visitation, church dinners, and every other time the doors were open. Numerous lifelong friendships were formed from the 60’s to present day . . . the Campbells, Stiglers, Browns, Pabsts, Planks, Wilfongs, Dussenberrys, Hughes, Matthews, the Keiths, Jacksons, and so very many more. They opened their homes and hearts to one another in faith and trial, love and friendship, sorrow and joy.
In 1958 Jill and Ercell, along with Ercell’s father, Charlie, and Ercell’s sister and brother-in-law Julia Mae and Waller Curtis, built a cabin in Sunrise Beach, Missouri, on the Lake of the Ozarks. This cabin was a center point of the growing Arney family, and became a retreat center for extended family, friends, and the church. Jill was an avid water skier, card player, and 42 player at the lake. She and Ercell would often wake up early and together take a boat ride in the boat Ercell built.
She volunteered with the PTA and was a very involved with the Auxiliary of Baptist Hospital.
Her life with Ercell, included over 70 years of marriage, and the delight of sharing life with their grandchildren Dawn Marie Arney Moore, Heather Arney, Jeffrey M. Reed, Blake Charles Arney, and Connor Nathan Arney. In these past years it was her delight to hold her great grandchildren, Kai, Maya, and Layla.
In these last years Jill grew ill. Alzheimers is a difficult disease. Ercell was there with her, taking care of her day after day. A year and half ago she went to live at the Village of Jackson Creek. When she passed away last Thursday, June 2, 2016, the nurses, the hospice staff, the maintenance staff, and administrators all spoke of the wonderful sweet, woman she was. Even in her illness Jill would tell all who visited her, “Love you, love you, love you!”
Of her marriage with Ercell it could and should be said that they lived for each other in love and partnership. They were very seldom apart for more than the work day, and they worked together on taking care of parents, children, houses, cabins, friendships, career, grandchildren, and some quiet nights at home at 711 E 108th St.
Remembering Jill is remembering her laugh, her smile, her “for goodness sakes.” She loved her God, served her Jesus, invested herself in Ercell and family. Oh, she never quite learned to screw a jar lid back on tightly enough. But Ercell was there to help clean up the mess.
"I love you, Amen"
Visitation will be held 10 - 11 a.m., followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m., Tuesday, June 7 at Grace Point Baptist Church, 10415 Chestnut Dr., Kansas City, MO. gpchurch.us.
Arrangements under the direction of Mt Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, Kansas City, MO.
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